Why has a 1942 King George VI sixpence got GRJ on the reverse?
It does not have GRJ but GRI, though it does resemble a J! It stands for Georgius Rex Imperator – George King and Emperor – a title that would disappear from our coinage after 1948 when India became independent. The legend reads Georgius VI D G Rex Br Omn Fid Def Ind Imp: George VI, by the Grace of God, King, Of All Britons, Defender of The Faith, Emperor of India. The title Of All Britons only appeared on the Queen’s coins in 1953, it was removed on the wishes of The Queen as being out of step with the notion of a Commonwealth of Nations.
