How to Identify the Sierra Leone 20 Cents
A collector's guide to recognizing the 1964 Sierra Leone 20 cents by its portrait, lion coat-of-arms reverse, denomination, color, and size.
Read the full Sierra Leone 20 Cents encyclopedia entry →
Begin with the portrait side. A genuine Sierra Leone 20 cents of this type shows a profile portrait set toward the left, the effigy used on the country's 1964 decimal coins. If the coin instead shows a different ruler, a plain design, or no portrait at all, it is not this issue. The portrait is often the first area to soften with wear, so read it under good light.
Turn to the arms side to confirm the type and value. This face is built around the Sierra Leone coat of arms with its central lion, surrounded by national lettering, and it states the denomination as twenty cents. Match that number carefully, because other values in the same decimal series share the coat-of-arms reverse and are easy to confuse at a glance. The lion arms plus the twenty-cent value together confirm the specific coin.
Check color, size, and weight. The 20 cents appears in a copper or bronze base metal, so it should look warm and coppery-brown rather than pale and silvery. A coin that is markedly larger or smaller, much heavier or lighter, or a clearly different color is likely another denomination or an unrelated foreign coin. Weigh and measure it and compare against catalog specifications for the 1964 20 cents when precision matters.
Match the date and watch for look-alikes. The 1964 date places the coin in Sierra Leone's first decimal coinage, so read it together with the denomination rather than relying on the arms alone, since the same heraldic lion appears across the series. Other small West African and world coins of the era can resemble it in size and tone, making the portrait and the twenty-cent legend your most reliable cues.
Authentication is rarely a concern for such a low-value circulation coin, since counterfeiting minor pieces is uncommon. Focus instead on reading the portrait, the lion arms, the twenty-cent denomination, and the 1964 date correctly, and on judging condition: check the portrait, lion, and lettering for original detail and even surfaces, and be wary of tooling, re-cut dates, or off-color, seamed surfaces that suggest a fake before assigning any collector value.
Frequently asked questions
How do I confirm it is the 20 cents and not another value?
Read the arms side. It states the denomination as twenty cents alongside the coat of arms and the 1964 date. Other coins in the same series share the lion reverse, so match the exact value rather than relying on the arms alone.
What is the quickest way to recognize this coin?
Look for a left-facing portrait profile on one side and the Sierra Leone coat of arms with its lion, plus the twenty-cent value and 1964 date, on the other. That combination identifies the Sierra Leone 20 cents.
What color and size should it be?
It is a base-metal coin in a copper or bronze tone, so it should look warm and coppery-brown rather than pale and silvery. A markedly different size, weight, or color points to another denomination or an unrelated coin.
Do I need to worry about fakes?
Not usually. As a low-value circulation coin it is rarely counterfeited. Concentrate on reading the portrait, lion arms, twenty-cent denomination, and 1964 date correctly, and on assessing wear and original color.