5 Shilling Pattern Bronze

Pattern coinage for South Africa's 1937 crown-sized denomination was struck in anticipation of George VI's coronation year, with the new king's effigy needing official approval before production decisions were finalized. Bronze was an unconventional choice for a five-shilling piece — the denomination ultimately circulated in silver — making this pattern a trial of metal rather than design.

Pretoria Mint produced only a handful of such trials. Most known examples passed through official channels rather than public sale, which is why surviving pieces tend to appear in collections with documented provenance tracing back to mint or government sources.