When was the first decimal coin issued in the UK?
The Decimalisation Association campaigned for decimalisation from 1841 onwards but it wasn’t until more than a century later that it was finally introduced. Decimal Day officially took place on 15th February 1971. From this day onwards, the traditional pounds, shilling and pence were no longer used in either jurisdiction. Instead, shillings were abolished and the...
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Can You Use Guernsey Currency In The UK?
Despite being located off the coast of Normandy, Guernsey is part of the British Channel Islands but is a self-governing British dependency. As such Guernsey has the authority to use its own currency: the Guernsey pound – but can you spend Guernsey currency in the UK or is it only used in Guernsey itself? While...
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British Crown Coins: Types, Values and Identification
A British crown can refer to several different coins and commemorative issues. The denomination and date alone are not enough to establish a value. What affects a crown’s value? Check the date, monarch, design, metal, finish, condition and whether the coin is a circulating-era issue or a commemorative crown. Silver and Proof examples must be...
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How Much Do UK Coins Weigh?
The current UK coins used in everyday change weigh from 3.25g for a 5p to 12g for a £2. The table below gives the Royal Mint specifications for the eight circulating denominations. Denomination Weight (g) Diameter (mm) Thickness (mm) 1p 3.56 20.3 1.65 2p 7.12 25.9 2.03 5p 3.25 18.0 1.70 10p 6.50 24.5 1.85...
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Florence Nightingale £2 Coin: Is It Rare Or Worth Anything?
The Florence Nightingale £2 commemorates one of the most important women in British history and celebrates the excellent quality of care provided by nurses to this day. Having been released into circulation in 2010, collectors have had plenty of time to get their hands on this coin, but is the Florence Nightingale £2 coin rare...
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What To Do With Your Old Coins And Banknotes
Currency within the UK changes fairly frequently leading to coins and banknotes being taken out of circulation. When this happens, the Bank of England will usually give a set time period for people to exchange their old currency for the new coins or notes that are being released. But what happens if you miss this...
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How Much Is A 10-Shilling Note Worth?
The 10-shilling note was introduced in 1928 due to the mounting pressure on gold reserves due to World War 1; but how much is a 10-shilling note worth today? In 2022, 10-shilling notes sell for around £3.50 on average according to values on eBay but this can vary greatly depending on the condition of the...
READHow Many 50p Coins are There? 2022 Complete Guide
Since being released into the UK’s currency system in 1969 as part of decimalisation, the reverse of the 50p coin has seen many different designs. The coin has become synonymous with the commemoration of important British figures and historical moments. With over 70 individual designs, the 50p coin is highly collectable and the British public...
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How to get uncirculated coins UK
The best place to buy uncirculated coins in the UK is from the Royal Mint, based in Wales, which produces many coins in brilliant uncirculated(BU) condition. The Royal Mint is also in charge of producing all coinage for the United Kingdom, and if you’re more interested in circulating coins you can check out our blog...
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How Much Is a Shilling Worth? Face Value and Collecting
A shilling was a pre-decimal British unit worth 12 old pence. There were 20 shillings in one pound, so a pound contained 240 old pence. How much is a shilling in today’s money? At the basic decimal conversion, one shilling equals 5 pence. Britain changed from 20 shillings to 100 new pence in 1971. This...
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How Much Is A 1983 New Two Pence Worth?
A 1983 two pence coin with the inscription ‘NEW PENCE’ is very rare, but just how much are these coins worth today to collectors? According to our research, the coin sells for around £1,000 when listed on eBay, and there are very few other places (if any) that offer the coin for sale. Auctions offer...
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The William Shakespeare £2 Coins: How Much Are They Really Worth?
To commemorate the 400th Anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death the Royal Mint produced 3 different Shakespeare £2 coin designs that entered circulation in 2016. These designs included the Comedies, Histories and Tragedies designs. Want to know how much the coins are worth and how rare they really are? Read the rest of this article to find...
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