Southern Rhodesia's wartime silver coinage was debased from .925 to .500 fine in 1942, a direct consequence of silver supply pressures affecting sterling-area mints across the Commonwealth during the Second World War. The Royal Mint in Pretoria handled much of the output for Southern Rhodesian subsidiary coinage during this period, as London's capacity remained committed to war production.
The .500 fine standard was retained after the war's end — Southern Rhodesia never returned to sterling silver for this denomination.
Southern Rhodesia's wartime silver coinage was debased from .925 to .500 fine in 1942, a direct consequence of silver supply pressures affecting sterling-area mints across the Commonwealth during the Second World War. The Royal Mint in Pretoria handled much of the output for Southern Rhodesian subsidiary coinage during this period, as London's capacity remained committed to war production.
The .500 fine standard was retained after the war's end — Southern Rhodesia never returned to sterling silver for this denomination.