British West African Penny - significance and is it degrading towards Judaism?

Question

Recently I was at a flea market and found a necklace made from a 1959 British West African Penny (I think that is what it is, I looked it up and that's all I got). I saw that one side had the Star of David on it, so I decided to buy it for my friend. More info on the coin: One side has "Federation of Nigeria 1959, with the star of david. The other side has The Second Queen Elizabeth on the outside with Half Penny underneath a picture of a crown on the inside.

I looked it up, and cannot find much info about the coin besides being for an alliance between a slave trading company and Britain. Please help! Does anyone know what this coin was used for, and if it was bad for Jewish people? I wouldn't feel right giving my Jewish friend a necklace that had a bad history connected to it. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

There was no slave trading in Britain or it's Empire in 1959 - it has ceased 150 years before! British West Africa was the name given to British colonies on the west coast of Africa, including placing like Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana etc. It was nothing to do with an alliance with a slaving company. This was normal coinage in the area at the time. (You say it is a penny, put then that under the Queen's picture it says it is a halfpenny.) It would appear that the Star of David was used as a symbol on coins of BWA - see picture at the link below. Why that was I cannot find out. I would not be concerned about any bad history. I would give it to your Jewish friend without any concern.