Coins of the Rhodesian dollar facts for kids
The coins of the Rhodesian dollar were the metal money used in Rhodesia. This was the country's official money system for a few years.
All Rhodesian coins were designed by a person named Tommy Sasseen. They were made at the South African Mint in Pretoria.
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Understanding Rhodesian Coins
Why Did Rhodesia Change Its Money?
In June 1969, people in Rhodesia voted for a new way to run their country. This led to Rhodesia becoming a republic. On February 17, 1970, Rhodesia changed its money system. They switched to a new system called decimal currency. This means money was based on units of ten, like our dollars and cents today.
Before this, Rhodesia used a system similar to the British pound. Old coins like the halfpenny and penny were taken out of use. They were replaced by new coins: the 1⁄2 cent coin and the 1 cent coin. There was also a special 2+1⁄2 cent coin, sometimes called a tickey.
What Did the New Coins Look Like?
The new coins showed the Rhodesian coat of arms on the front. This was different from the older coins, which had a picture of Queen Elizabeth II. This change showed how the country's government had shifted.
Some older coins from 1964 were still used. Their values were simply changed to the new decimal system:
- A sixpence (6d) became 5 cents.
- A shilling (1/-) became 10 cents.
- A florin (2/-) became 20 cents.
- A half-crown (2/6) became 25 cents.
New Coins Over Time
In 1973, a new five cent coin was made. It was made from a metal called cupronickel. This coin also featured the Rhodesian coat of arms. For coins made between 1975 and 1977, the word RHODESIA was added to the coin's design.
In 1975, new ten cent and 25 cent coins were made. These specific coins were only produced in that year. A new 20 cent coin was also made in 1975 and again in 1977.
The very last Rhodesian coins were made in 1977. The 1⁄2 cent coin from 1977 is very rare today. Only about 10 of them are known to exist!
After 1980, Rhodesia became the country of Zimbabwe. The Rhodesian dollar was then replaced by the Zimbabwean dollar. The value of the money stayed the same during this change.
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