Latest news and updates on British numismatic - Coins, banknotes, tokens
July 15, 2024
Quarter Guinea 1718 and 1762 - Price Guide and values
The Quarter guinea was a British coin minted only in the years 1718 and 1762. Despite its minuscule size, the coin took the form of a scaled-down version of the guinea and half guinea.
July 6, 2024
6 pence 1674 to 1701 - Price Guide and values
Introduced in 1551 during the reign of Edward VI, the sixpence was a mainstay of national coinage for more than 400 years until it was demonetised in 1980.
June 28, 2024
From the archives: The Anglo-Irish Coinage of Elizabeth I
The Anglo-Irish coins of the first Queen Elizabeth are not a pretty sight. Probably because of this, their study has been neglected over the years. Indeed, it is tempting to dismiss them as divisible into three distinct coinages and leave it at that - but I cannot let the reader off that lightly!
June 26, 2024
Quarter Farthing -1839 to 1868 - Price Guide and values
While quarter farthings were never legal tender in the United Kingdom, they are fractions of the British farthing, which was currency in Ceylon, and traditionally have been catalogued as British coinage. William Wyon designed the reverse to feature a royal crown above the words QUARTER FARTHING and the date. The mint produced bronze proofs in 1868.
June 20, 2024
20 Pence 1982 to 2018 - Price Guide and values
The Tudor rose (sometimes called the Union rose) is crowned on the reverse of this denomination before the Royal Arms. The Tudor rose consists of five white inner petals, representing the House of York, and five red outer petals to represent the House of Lancaster. To help identification and avoid confusion with similar sized coins, the 20p is seven sided and, like the 50p, an equilateral curve heptagon. The shape, with its constant rolling diameter, means that it is readily acceptable in vending machines.
June 18, 2024
The Gun Money of James II
The title means exactly what it says! These coins were struck in Ireland and used to pay the common soldiers of James II's army, who were helping him to regain the English throne from William and Mary. Most historians believe that the foreign officers - mostly French, Spanish and Portuguese - refused to be paid in anything other than gold or silver.
June 11, 2024
5 Pounds 1820 to 1953 - Price Guide and values
The five pound British gold coin, also known as a quintuple sovereign has been struck intermittently between 1820 and 1953. One of the rarest coins in Great Britain, and a coin much sought after by collectors, is the Una and the Lion five pounds.
June 7, 2024
A Brief Description of Condor Tokens
During the latter part of the 18th century Britain found herself with a severe shortage of small denomination coinage. Royal Mint issues of copper farthing and halfpenny coins had ceased in 1775 and none were forthcoming for 23 years. This shortage, coupled with the onset of the industrial revolution and the movement of more people into factory jobs, prompted the Parys Mines Co. in 1787 to mint and issue a copper penny token to pay their workers.
June 2, 2024
The Three Graces 1817 Silver Pattern
Produced in 1817, this pattern crown is depicting England, Ireland, and Scotland anthropomorphized as the Three Graces of Greek mythology wrapped in a circular embrace, the three Goddesses together represent the United Kingdom.
May 26, 2024
2 Pounds 1820 to 1953 - Price Guide and values
A committee of the Privy Council recommended gold coins of ten shillings, twenty shillings, two pounds and five pounds be issued, and this was accepted by George, Prince Regent on August 3, 1816. The five-pound and two-pound pieces did not circulate to any great extent, and were kept primarily as souvenirs.
May 21, 2024
1649 to 1660 - Commonwealth coins price guide and values added
When the House of Lords was abolished in March 1649 basis of government in Britain disappeared. The monarchy was restored in 1660, but coins were minted during this short period (1649 to 1660). These coins don't have a King bust on either side. Instead, design is a shield containing the cross of St George and shields of England and Ireland.
May 17, 2024
Half Guinea 1669 to 1701 - Price Guide and values
The half guinea gold coins were first produced in 1669, some years after the Guinea entered circulation. The Elephant and Castle symbol appears in some of them, from the emblem of the Royal African Company in Africa. It was founded, as The Company of Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa after Charles II ascended to the throne in 1660.
May 15, 2024
Hammered coinage added - Charles II 1660 to 1662
British hammered coins were first produced in 600AD and stayed in production until 1662 when the milling process dramatically improved quality and security levels. Most coin denominations looked the same, and usually featured a profile of the ruling monarch, a coat of arms, a rose and a cross.
May 8, 2024
10 Pence 1968 to 2023 - Price Guide and values
The reverse of the coin, before the Royal Arms, was designed by Christopher Ironside and was a crowned lion (formally, Part of the crest of England, a lion passant guardant royally crowned). A lion passant is walking, with the right fore paw raised and all others on the ground. The smaller coin was issued on 30th September 1992.
May 6, 2024
Shilling 1702 to 1798 - Price Guide and values
The shilling as a coin was introduced at the beginning of the 16th century during the last years of the reign of Henry VII and until the middle of that century was known as a testoon. It was one of the first English coins to bear a real portrait of the monarch instead of the representative portrait which had served for the previous ten centuries.
April 30, 2024
British pre-decimal coins price guide and values - Proof added
A proof coins is a coin having a different and more refined manufacturing process than circulation coins. The corners and sides of proof are polished to give a cameo-like/mirror-like or matte finish.
April 29, 2024
Shilling 1663 to 1701 - Price Guide and values
The shilling as a coin was introduced at the beginning of the 16th century during the last years of the reign of Henry VII and until the middle of that century was known as a testoon. It was one of the first English coins to bear a real portrait of the monarch instead of the representative portrait which had served for the previous ten centuries.
April 21, 2024
2 Pence 1817 to 1848 - Price Guide and values
A short-lived twopence denomination in silver was also produced, with circulation issues in 1817, 1818 and 1820, after which silver twopence coins were issued only as Maundy money.
April 17, 2024
50 Pence 2020 - Withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit Coin)
The Brexit 2020 50 Pence coin features an inscription which reads Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations on the reverse. Unveiled by Chancellor Sajid Javid, it commemorates the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.
April 12, 2024
Farthing 1821 to 1901 - Price Guide and values
After the mint moved from the Tower of London to Tower Hill the production of gold and silver coins took precedence over copper in the Great Recoinage of 1816. The production of copper coins did not resume until the reign of King George IV (1820-1830), when farthings were produced in 1821.
April 9, 2024
5 Pence 1968 to 2023 - Price Guide and values
The National emblem of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned was the design on the reverse of this denomination before the Royal Arms. The first use of the thistle as a royal symbol of Scotland was on silver coins issued by James III in 1470. After a review of the United Kingdom coinage in 1987, the Government announced its intention to issue a smaller 5p coin.
April 7, 2024
Third Farthing 1827 to 1913 - Price Guide and values
The third farthing was minted in copper in 1827, 1835, and 1844, and in bronze in various years between 1866 and 1913. While exclusively authorised for use in the Crown Colony of Malta, third farthings are catalogued as British coinage because they are fractions of British currency, and Malta otherwise used standard coins of the pound sterling.
April 3, 2024
British Monarchs - 1751 to 1952
Small history of British monarchs: George III, George IV, William IV, Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II.
March 29, 2024
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.
March 25, 2024
Crown 1703 to 1751 - Price Guide and values
By 1751 the popularity of the silver crown had declined and it evidently played a limited role in circulation.
