{"id":1062,"date":"2026-01-29T15:31:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T04:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gbc.31pendleton.com\/?p=1062"},"modified":"2026-01-29T15:31:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T04:31:23","slug":"collection-focus-the-ghost-king-1936-east-africa-5-cents-kn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gbc.31pendleton.com\/?p=1062","title":{"rendered":"Collection Focus: The Ghost King (1936 East Africa 5 Cents – KN)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
To round off this session, I am posting one of the most historically significant pieces in my collection. It represents the “Year of Three Kings,” the Abdication Crisis, and the “other” great mint of Birmingham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a coin of Edward VIII<\/strong>\u2014the King who gave up the throne for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Historical Context: The King Who Never Was<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Edward VIII reigned for less than a year in 1936. Because he abdicated before his coronation, the Royal Mint never released portrait coins for circulation in Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the colonies were different. East Africa used “holed” coins which didn’t require a royal portrait\u2014only the name needed changing. As a result, East Africa is one of the few places in the world where Edward VIII currency was legally issued and circulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Birmingham Connection: Kings Norton<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My collection focuses heavily on the Heaton Mint (“H”), but they weren’t the only game in town. The Kings Norton Metal Company<\/strong> (“KN”) was Heaton’s local rival. Located in the Kings Norton area of Birmingham, they often took on overflow work from the Royal Mint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Rarity:<\/strong>\u00a0The 1936 5-Cent was minted in London, by Heaton (H), and by Kings Norton (KN). The\u00a0KN<\/strong>\u00a0variety is generally considered the scarcest of the three.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Coin: 1936 East Africa 5 Cents<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Spotting the Mark:<\/strong> On the reverse, look at the very bottom, just above the date 1936<\/strong> and between the tips of the elephant tusks. You will see the tiny letters KN<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Condition & Grading<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Assessment:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Obverse:<\/strong>\u00a0The legend\u00a0EDWARDVS VIII REX ET IND IMP<\/em>\u00a0is clear and legible. This is the most important part of the coin\u2014the name of the short-lived King.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Reverse:<\/strong>\u00a0The tusks are visible, though the coin has seen honest circulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Surface:<\/strong>\u00a0The coin is quite dark with some surface deposits (verdigris) around the rim and lettering. This is very common for bronze that has spent decades in a tropical climate. The darkness makes the mintmark harder to spot, but it is there.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Grade: Fine to Very Fine (F\/VF)<\/strong> A circulated example, but a scarce variety of a rare monarch.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This coin is a conversation starter. It bears the name of a King who was never crowned. It bears the mark of a mint (Kings Norton) that rivaled Heaton. It is a piece of history from the months leading up to the biggest constitutional crisis of the 20th century, struck right in the heart of Birmingham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gbc.31pendleton.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/East-Africa-Edward-VIII-5-Cents-combined-1024x588.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n