Cyprus 50 mils 1955 - Fern leaves

Cyprus · 1955 · 50 mils

Circulating coinCommonF · Fine

€4.00estimate in F

4,000,000coins minted

N6950 KM36

JSReference number JSJS-L6ABE

Circulating coin

50 mils coin of Cyprus under Elizabeth II, first decimal series (1955)

The coin's story

From 1878 to 1960, Cyprus was administered by the United Kingdom, as a Crown colony from 1925. In 1955, the island abandoned the piastre inherited from the Ottoman Empire and adopted the decimal system: the Cyprus pound was now divided into 1,000 mils. The 50 mils coin, in cupronickel, is part of this first series struck by the Royal Mint in London. Its reverse, engraved by William Maving Gardner, shows fern leaves framing the value. The obverse bears the crowned portrait of the young Queen Elizabeth II, engraved by Cecil Thomas. The coin was struck only in 1955, in 4,000,000 pieces, plus 2,000 proofs. The Republic of Cyprus, independent in 1960, replaced these coins with its own in 1963.

ObverseThe Portrait of the Queen

QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND

Design: Crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, by Cecil Thomas.
Legend: QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND around.

CTEngraved by Cecil Thomas

ReverseThe Fern Leaves

GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS + FIFTY MILS50+ 1955 +

Design: A spray of fern leaves rising in the centre and separating the figures of the value.
Denomination: The number 50 at the foot of the spray and the value FIFTY MILS in the legend.
Legend: GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS at the top.
Date: The date 1955 at the bottom, between two ornaments.

WGEngraved by William Maving Gardner