Hello all,
I came across this today
I'm assuming these are common in he UK but I haven't ever found one, so i thought I would ask.
From context I think these were issued by the Royal mint to explain the transfer to decimal coinage. How am I doing so far?
Do these have any value?
How and when were these given to the public? The bronze coins carry the year 1971 and the others carry 1968, but ther is mention on the included card that notes " The three bronze coins will not become legal tender until D Day. But the other coinage changes will be made gradually from 1968 onwards."
Does this mean that these coins were minted and issued before the year they carry?
Yes, these are common place. In answer to your question about when they came out...I believe they were UNCed together...in 1971. I think the set says when they came out somewhere. I'll check mine.
February 1971, I remeber it like it was yesterday! Little old ladies in tears, shopkeepers scratching their heads, coin collectors heartbroken that the coins which had served the needs of the British for hundreds of years were no more.
As I recall during the period 1968-1971 the new decimal coins were introduced piecemeal, the first one being the 10p and 5p which were identical in size and weight to the florin and shilling. I'm pretty sure the 50 pence piece was around pre 1971 too. The smaller value 1/2p, 1p and 2p were not legal tender until d-day as they were replacing the large pennys and ha'penys which were much larger. The 1/2p was withdrawn rather quickly as the 70's inflation made it useless.
I can't like the decimal currency, there is something magical about a coin called a "groat", it sounds like an insult or a Tolkien characters. Who can get excited over a "p"?
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
I do like both, Phil. £sd are great and then £p are also great. The work that has gone into both of high quality. The 4th portrait ps since 2008 are also very beautiful, making up the Royal shield. They all have their own elan.
The Machin potraits on the decimal coins are admittedly very nicely executed but they would look equally good on shillings, florins, halfcrowns and the like. I dunno guys, maybe I'm being a "Little Englander" but I never thouht of myself as being "European". I love Europe (by that I mean all the bits that aren't part of Britain), I love it's people - I just never wanted to be a part of it. The loss of our currency is trivial compared to the loss of our independence but for the regular guy-in-the-street, it's the most visible sign.
Here's a few goodies from me retirement stash. For anyone not familiar with the UK issues, the proof set on the left is the 1970 set which comprised the final issue of the much loved lsd coins. The mint had ceased production in 1967 in anticipation of "d day" so these were never issued for circulation. It's the point at which my UK collection ends.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
Oh, could you imagine the horror of a major change in US currency? Based on my experiance with the average minimum wage earning fastfood employee and the performance of the biggest banks over the last few years, people can hardly manage the the system of money we've been using for 200 years! ( a homerun shot for ya Matt, your welcome.)
I got the set for $1, so I guess it was right in line with the going price.
I have a set that is simular to that, but it contains 6 coins. The 6th coin is a 7 sided 50 pence dated 1969. The coins are in a redish colored hard case with "Britains First Complete Set Of Decimal Coins" printed on the outside of the case. "Queen Elizabeth II" is printed on the inside of the lid.
Цитата: james wolfe i like what pnightingale said about the change over,can you image that happening in the usa ? an matt those sets are that cheap?
Er er er no, I mean I can sell you them for £5 each.....Just let me buy some from the wholesaler....
Seriously, yes they are that cheap. I cant for the life of me remember what I did with mine. I know I got it from a junk shop on the Isle of Wight, but I cant remember where I put it.
i like what pnightingale said about the change over,can you image that happening in the usa ? an matt those sets are that cheap? 
