British Nova Scotia stamps year 1860 MH lot
The year 1860 was a pivotal one for Nova Scotia philately, as the colony transitioned from the Pence currency to the Decimal currency system.
The British colony of Nova Scotia issued a new series of definitive stamps in October 1860, denominated in Cents, which replaced the earlier issues denominated in pence and shillings (1851-1857).
The initial stamps of this Decimal Currency issue released in 1860 feature a portrait of Queen Victoria. The original set of denominations issued in 1860 are:
| Denomination | Color | Scott Catalogue # | Stanley Gibbons (SG) # | Notes |
| 1 Cent | Black (or Grey Black) | 8 | 9 or 19 | Portrait of Queen Victoria facing left. |
| 5 Cents | Blue (or Deep Blue) | 10 | 12, 13, 24, or 25 | Portrait of Queen Victoria (same as 1c). |
| 8 1/2 Cents | Green (or Yellow Green) | 11 | 14, 15, or 26 | Chalon Head portrait of Queen Victoria. |
| 10 Cents | Vermilion (or Scarlet) | 12 | 16 | Chalon Head portrait of Queen Victoria. |
| 12 1/2 Cents | Black | 13 | 17 or 29 | Chalon Head portrait of Queen Victoria. |
Key Characteristics of the 1860 Issue:
- Change in Currency: The stamps mark the change from the sterling-based Pence currency to the Cents currency.
- Printer: They were printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York.
- Design:
- The lower values (1c and 5c) feature a left-facing profile of a young Queen Victoria. This portrait is similar to the later Large Queen and Small Queen issues of Canada.
- The higher values (821c, 10c, and 1221c) feature the distinctive “Chalon Head” portrait of Queen Victoria, set in a rectangular frame (unlike the earlier diamond-shaped Chalon stamps).
(A 2 Cent value (Scott #9) was added to this series later, in 1863.)
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