Coins and UK is...
...an informative website on United Kingdom numismatics and it was created to help all types of collectors sharing their social knowledge of this hobby.
News and updates
June 12, 2025
Half-Sovereign 1980 to 2025 added
In 1980, the first Elizabeth II Half Sovereigns available to the public were issued, in proof quality, and in 1982, the first half sovereigns sold as bullion coins. Both issues carried the second coinage portrait of Elizabeth II, by Arnold Machin on their obverses, with the Pistrucci design as the reverse.
June 9, 2025
Third Guinea 1797 to 1813 - Price Guide and values
This gold coins were minted only in the reign of George III. The third guinea (seven shilling piece), a guinea being worth 21 shillings in sterling specie, was introduced in Great Britain by a proclamation of 29 November 1797.
June 6, 2025
From the archives: The East India Company outside India
The East India Company (E.I.C.) was granted its Charter in 1600 and sent out its first expedition in 1601. It carried trade goods and coined silver, some of which may have been the trade coins now better known as Portcullis money, struck in 1600. The 8, 4, 2 and 1 reales were struck without a portrait, which was said to ensure their acceptance in Muslim states (human representation is not acceptable in Islam). However, this was not repeated since the pieces failed to replace the well established Spanish dollars.
June 3, 2025
Penny 1718 to 1807 - Price Guide and values
Because of the rising price of silver the penny became progressively smaller and from the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 it was struck only for use as part of the Royal Maundy. In 1797 the penny was struck for the first time as a large copper coin. These cartwheel pennies of 1797 proved popular and continued to circulate, along with later and slightly lighter copper pennies, until 1860.
June 2, 2025
Sovereign 1974 to 2022 added
No Sovereigns were struck in the first few years of the decimal era and in 1974, Machin's coinage portrait graced the chief coin of the world for the first time. Interestingly, a 1974 Sovereign was the very last coin to be struck at the premises in Tower Hill, London, before production moved to the 35-acre site in Llantrisant, South Wales.
