Obverse and reverse of common coins in current circulation, £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1pImage:FivePence.jpeg
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Pre-decimal: Copper

This article concerns British coinage, the coinage of the United Kingdom. more...

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Coin Appraisals

For related topics see:

  • British banknotes
  • Pound Sterling

Current coinage

The British currency was decimalised on February 15, 1971. The basic unit of currency – the pound (or pound sterling) – was unaffected. Before decimalisation there were 240 (old) pennies in a pound, now there are 100 (new) pence. The new coins were marked with the wording NEW PENNY (singular) or NEW PENCE (plural) to distinguish them from the old. The word "new" was dropped after ten years. The symbol p was also adopted to distinguish the new pennies from the old, which used the symbol d.

Every year, newly minted coins are checked for size, weight, and composition at a Trial of the Pyx. Essentially the same procedure has been used since the thirteenth century. Assaying is now done by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths on behalf of HM Treasury.

The total amount of coinage in circulation is roughly three and a quarter billion pounds, of which the £1 and £2 coins account for almost two billion pounds .

Obverse Of Modern Coins

All modern coins feature a profile of the current monarch's head. The direction in which they face changes with each successive monarch. There was a small quirk in this alternating pattern when Edward VIII ascended to the throne. George V coin's had him facing the left, as did Edward VIII, his succesor. This was because Edward thought that to be his best side, breaking with tradition (many saw this as portent of a bad reign). However, none of these coins were put into general circulation before Edward abdicated. When George VI came to the throne, he had his coins struck with him facing the left, as if Edward's coins had faced the right (as they should have done in theory). This means that in a timeline of coins used in Britain, George V and VI's coins face to the left, despite the fact they follow directly chronologically. All current coins include the Latin inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSOR in abbreviated form, which translates as "Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith", with Elizabeth II facing to the right.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


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1948 Australia Half Penny1948 Australia Half Penny 1910 Australian Florin Space Filler1910 Australian Florin Space Filler
1914 Australia Florin Xf Tough 33-40 Free Ship U.S.1914 Australia Florin Xf Tough 33-40 Free Ship U.S. 1926 Australian Half-penny, 'good Very Fine', die crack errors1926 Australian Half-penny, 'good Very Fine', die crack errors
1920 'no dots (plain)' Australian Penny, Indian Obverse, 'Fine', contact marks1920 'no dots (plain)' Australian Penny, Indian Obverse, 'Fine', contact marks 1964Y. Pennies Original Bank Roll Choice Unc - Gem Unc1964Y. Pennies Original Bank Roll Choice Unc - Gem Unc
Austrailian 1943 half pennyAustrailian 1943 half penny $0.99 1947 Silver Australia 1 Florin1947 Silver Australia 1 Florin $5.99
1976 10c Ram Roll (40coins)1976 10c Ram Roll (40coins) 1921 Australian Half-penny, 'Very Fine', uneven wear1921 Australian Half-penny, 'Very Fine', uneven wear
1925 Australia Penny. Nice midgrade circulated coin.1925 Australia Penny. Nice midgrade circulated coin. $80.00 A Very Nice Higher Grade 1943 Australian Half Penny!-0384A Very Nice Higher Grade 1943 Australian Half Penny!-0384
Australia - 1919 Scarce Kgv 1d One Penny CoinAustralia - 1919 Scarce Kgv 1d One Penny Coin $0.99 1914 H Australian Half Penny Pre-Decimal coin.1914 H Australian Half Penny Pre-Decimal coin. $2.25
1927 Australian Threepence, 'Fine'1927 Australian Threepence, 'Fine' Australia- 3 Pence - 1950Australia- 3 Pence - 1950 $0.99
Australia 1 Penny 1936 8 Pearls Cat#23 Choice ExtraFineAustralia 1 Penny 1936 8 Pearls Cat#23 Choice ExtraFine $29.99 Australia 1 Penny 1935 Cat#23 ExtraFine/ChVf GradeAustralia 1 Penny 1935 Cat#23 ExtraFine/ChVf Grade $49.99
Lot 4 Australia Silver 14A-62Lot 4 Australia Silver 14A-62 Australia:1937(​m) 1Cr Ch.Au-UncAustralia:1937(​m) 1Cr Ch.Au-Unc
1928 George V One Shilling Australia - Xf Grade Coin - Free Shipping (C102)1928 George V One Shilling Australia - Xf Grade Coin - Free Shipping (C102) 1915 Australia Penny - Good Extra Fine1915 Australia Penny - Good Extra Fine $1.85
1943 Australia Florins Lot of 2 Inv#73-621943 Australia Florins Lot of 2 Inv#73-62 Australian Silver Threepence - 1964Australian Silver Threepence - 1964
1933 Australian Florin Better Grade Lower Mintage Date1933 Australian Florin Better Grade Lower Mintage Date Australia florin 1947 * Km#40a * Silver, .1818 oz AswAustralia florin 1947 * Km#40a * Silver, .1818 oz Asw $7.50
Australian Sterling Silver Florin - 1942 Melbourne MintAustralian Sterling Silver Florin - 1942 Melbourne Mint High Grade Bu 1943 S Australian-Aust​Ral ia Silver 3 Pence!High Grade Bu 1943 S Australian-Aust​Ral ia Silver 3 Pence!
Australian Sterling Silver Florin Two Shilling - 1915 HAustralian Sterling Silver Florin Two Shilling - 1915 H 1921 Australia 1 Penny - Collectible Coin1921 Australia 1 Penny - Collectible Coin $4.95
*1925 Australian Threepence Coin**1925 Australian Threepence Coin* 1925 Threepence Silver Coin1925 Threepence Silver Coin
Australia 1943 6 Pence Silver Coin Choice BuAustralia 1943 6 Pence Silver Coin Choice Bu $32.00 1925 'broken N' variety Australian Penny, 'about Very Fine'1925 'broken N' variety Australian Penny, 'about Very Fine'
Coin Australia 1952 threepence double struck brockage obverse with part AustralCoin Australia 1952 threepence double struck brockage obverse with part Austral Very Nice Higher End-1942 I Australian Large Penny!-O377Very Nice Higher End-1942 I Australian Large Penny!-O377 $4.77
1917 Australian Half-penny, 'good Very Fine', minor surface deterioration1917 Australian Half-penny, 'good Very Fine', minor surface deterioration Australia One Penny 1920 Uncirculated catalog value $ 350Australia One Penny 1920 Uncirculated catalog value $ 350 $0.01
1924 1929 1936 Australia Bronze Penny Lot George V Large Bronze Cent Coins Nice!1924 1929 1936 Australia Bronze Penny Lot George V Large Bronze Cent Coins Nice! 1916 Australian Half-penny, 'about Extremely Fine', grotty1916 Australian Half-penny, 'about Extremely Fine', grotty
1914h Australian Florin Good Starter1914h Australian Florin Good Starter 1941 Kg Australia 1 Penny Large Coin Kangaroo Km#361941 Kg Australia 1 Penny Large Coin Kangaroo Km#36 $19.50
1942 Australia Silver Shilling, .925 Silver.1942 Australia Silver Shilling, .925 Silver. $5.00 1933 Australia Florin; Scarce condition; Nicely toned original coin.1933 Australia Florin; Scarce condition; Nicely toned original coin.
1920 penny of Australia; nice Original Full Detail1920 penny of Australia; nice Original Full Detail $0.99
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