British Colonies Nova Scotia postage stamps year 1860
The stamps issued by the British Colony of Nova Scotia in 1860 are highly significant in philately as they represent the colony’s shift from using currency based on Pence to the new Decimal Currency system of Cents and Dollars.
The stamps were part of a new definitive series known as the Cents Issue or Decimal Issue, and were first released in October 1860. They were engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York.
Nova Scotia 1860 Cents Issue (Decimal Currency)
The original set of denominations released in 1860 were:
| Denomination | Color | Scott Catalogue # | Design / Portrait |
| 1 Cent | Black (or Grey Black) | Scott #8 | Left-facing profile of Queen Victoria (based on Wyon’s coin portrait). |
| 5 Cents | Blue (or Deep Blue) | Scott #10 | Left-facing profile of Queen Victoria (same as 1c). |
| 8 $\frac{1}{2}$ Cents | Green (or Deep Green) | Scott #11 | Full-face or three-quarter view of Queen Victoria (known as the “Chalon Head” portrait). |
| 10 Cents | Vermilion (or Scarlet) | Scott #12 | Full-face or three-quarter view of Queen Victoria (Chalon Head). |
| 12 $\frac{1}{2}$ Cents | Black (or Grey-Black) | Scott #13 | Full-face or three-quarter view of Queen Victoria (Chalon Head). |
(Note: The 2 Cents value was added to this series later, in 1863.)
Key Features of the 1860 Issue:
- Currency Change: This issue replaced the earlier pence-denominated stamps (1851-1857), reflecting the change to decimal currency in Nova Scotia on January 1, 1860.
- Design Difference: The series features two distinct portraits of Queen Victoria:
- The lower values (1c, 5c) use a profile portrait.
- The higher values (8$\frac{1}{2}$c, 10c, 12$\frac{1}{2}$c) use the famous Chalon Head portrait (full-face/three-quarter view).
- Perforation: These stamps were perforated 12 (or sometimes compound perforations like $11\frac{3}{4} \times 12$ on later printings).
- Paper: Stamps exist on both White and Yellowish paper, which is a key variation for collectors.
Due to the change in currency and the distinct designs, the 1860 Nova Scotia Cents Issue is a popular and collectible area of British North America (BNA) philately.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.