Australia / Gold Coast stamp 1884/91 – 2 Shillings
The Gold Coast (now Ghana) was a British colony during this period. Its stamps from 1884 to 1891 are classic examples of British colonial keyplate designs, all featuring Queen Victoria.
Main Issues: 1884–1891 Keyplate Series
🗓 Issued Between: 1884 and 1891
🖼 Design:
- Profile of Queen Victoria facing left
- Surrounded by an oval frame with “GOLD COAST” and denomination
- Designed and printed by De La Rue & Co., London
🧾 Standard Stamp Details (1884–1891)
| Denomination | Color (approx.) | Issue Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ½d | Green | 1884 | For printed matter rate |
| 1d | Red | 1884 | Common inland letter rate |
| 2d | Lilac-grey | 1884 | Standard overseas rate |
| 2½d | Ultramarine | 1887 | New rate for UPU mail |
| 3d | Orange-brown | 1884 | Less common |
| 6d | Orange | 1884 | Used for heavier letters |
| 1/- | Green | 1884 | Higher parcel/registered mail |
| 2/6 | Lilac and blue | 1889 | High denomination |
| 5/- | Rose | 1889 | Very high value, scarce |
| 10/- | Purple and blue | 1890–91 | Extremely rare, used on heavy documents or accounting |
| £1 | Lilac and black | 1891 | Rare, used mainly for fiscal purposes |
✒️ Surcharged Issues (1889–1891)
Due to postal rate changes and stamp shortages, several stamps were overprinted or surcharged:
| Overprint | On Which Stamp | Description |
|---|---|---|
| “½d” | On 1d red | Surcharge due to ½d shortage |
| “1d” | On 6d or 2d | New rate applied by overprinting |
These are popular with collectors due to:
- Multiple font types (typeset variations)
- Errors: Double surcharges, inverted surcharges, missing letters, etc.
🧠 Collecting Tips
- 🔍 Watermark: All stamps have Crown CA watermark (some later issues use Multiple Crown CA)
- ✂️ Perforation: Usually Perf 14 (check for varieties)
- 💰 Valuable Items: High denominations (2/6, 5/-, 10/-, £1), mint condition, and surcharge errors
- 🧾 Used examples with clean cancels from key towns (e.g., Cape Coast, Accra) can also be valuable
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