Description
British Empire, Cyprus, King George V (1910-1936 AD), Silver Forty-Five Piastres (28.29g, 39mm), 1928, 50 Years British Rule of Cyprus commemorative issue, Royal mint, London. Obverse: Crowned bust of King George V facing to the left, wearing coronation robes, engraver’s initials “B.M.” (Edgar Bertram Mackennal) on truncation in relief, legend surrounds, “GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND: IMP:”. Reverse: Two lions passant guardant, engraver’s initials “K·G” (George Kruger Gray) below, British rule “1878 – 1928” and country surrounds above, denomination surrounds below. KM-19. Mintage of 80,000. Lightly polished on the obverse, although nicely toned now and quite attractive to the eye, a charming example of the Cypriot commemorative piece, good Extremely Fine, reverse better.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Geōrgius quīntus, Deī Grātiā, Britanniārum Rēx et Indiae Imperātor”, with an English translation of “George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King and Emperor of India”.