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NumisTip

British Malaya George VI Small

1945-I Ten Cent

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With less than ten traced, 1945-I ten cent is extremely rare. As opposed to being minted in Britain like its ten cents counterpart, the piece is referenced to have been minted in India specifically the Bombay mint as denoted by the I located just above the date.

There are only two George VI ten cents minted in India - the 1945-I as mentioned and a 1941-I minted in Calcutta. Because a substantial part of currency was lost during World War Two, in an effort to revamp Britain's economy, minting coins were pushed to India and colonies to alleviate the burden.

Thus in 1945, five cent, ten cent and twenty cent were minted in Bombay. Both the ten cents and twenty cents are extremely rare with only two or three known twenty cents. While it is understandable that since these coins were outsourced they are rare, it is also possible that since Japan surrendered in August of 1945 half-way through the year, the necessity and focus of producing these coins were also diminished.

Comparing Ex Nihon coin and The Boon plate coin, which grade XF, they both posses a similar grey-molted toning with a Circulated-Cameo look instead of your typical circulated with subdued lustre perhaps because of the silver mixture from the Bombay mint or the reaction of the warm temperatures of India. Regardless, 1945 is also one of the last few years where a British coin was minted in India. This ten cent is a prime rarity and once crosses the auction block is sure to make records in today's market.