bilnic

I’m also collecting the silver 3d, but only circulation issues as opposed to Maundy Money. Here are a few points which may help you. Maundy issues to 1927 were exactly the same as circulation issues, but to a higher standard of production - and they usually show little or no wear. Commencing with the great recoinage of 1816, it appears that all issues were Maundy only until 1834 when they began to be struck for colonial use. From 1845 they came into use in Britain as well. There appear to have been none struck for circulation in 1847, 1848, 1852, 1869, 1923 and 1924. The year 1927 was the start of the “Acorn†type, but in that year only Proofs appeared so there were none for circulation and also none of the Acorn type were struck for 1929. As you begin looking at catalogues, you will find the word “Maundy†applied to most pre-1816 issues, but I consider this is a misnomer. In early years, the Maundy ceremony was performed using only silver 1d coins, therefore any 2d, 3d and 4d of those times would have been for general circulation. I would very much like to know if anyone in this forum has attempted to make a split of which years were “Maundy only†or “circulation only†(or both) for pre-1816 so-called Maundy money. Now, one thing is certain. If I have any of those facts wrong, we will get lots of replies to this topic! Oh, by the way, welcome to the forum. I hope that we'll hear more from you. Bill.

Talking of barmaids (is a change of title needed?), I often carry a couple of old coins in my pocket with my change to clean them. I had a silver 3d and showed it to a new barmaid at my local. I told her that it was still legal tender but she said that she would get the sack if she accepted it. I told her that it would be far worse than that if I checked her till and found that she was distributing counterfeit £1 coins. I aslo told her that she would be very silly to accept even that small amount of sterling silver. But this happened in Essex ..... Bill.

Since starting this topic, my collecting interests have changed considerably and as I am now collecting pre-decimal, I’ve been making some enquiries on this subject, including asking the Royal Mint. GOLD coins are outside my area of collecting (can’t afford them!), but I can give the low-down on the others. NO COIN ISSUED PRIOR TO THE ACT OF 1816 IS LEGAL TENDER. 1816 ONWARDS:- SILVER and Cupro-nickel 5/- Crown - all are legal tender at 25p. 4/- Double-Florin - all are legal tender at 20p. 2/6 Halfcrown - demonetised end of 1969. 2/- Florin - valid at 10p until demonetised end of June 1993. 1/- Shilling - valid at 5p until demonetised end of 1990. 6d Sixpence - valid at 2½p until demonetised end of June 1980. 4d Groat (Britannia type) - demonetised end of August 1971. 3d Threepence (Acorn and Shield types) - demonetised end of August 1971. 3d Threepence (“3â€type) - “considered as†Maundy Money and legal tender at 3p. 2d Twopence (“2†type) - “considered as†Maundy Money and legal tender at 2p. 1½d Three-halfpence - never legal tender in Britain. MAUNDY MONEY All coins after 1816 are legal tender at their shown number of decimal pence. BRASS 3d Threepence - demonetised end of August 1971. COPPER All Copper coins demonetised end of 1869. BRONZE 1d Penny - demonetised end of August 1971. ½d - Halfpenny - demonetised end of August 1969. ¼d Farthing - demonetised end of 1960. ⅓f Third-Farthing - never legal tender in Britain. BUT BEWARE There are some so-called coins listed in some publications which do not conform to any specification given in a Royal Proclamation. Some of them might be referred to as “plain edge proof†or suchlike. If the Royal Proclamation stated that “the edge shall be grained†and made no mention of plain edges, they are not coins and have never had any monetary value. Bill.

It's certainly interesting and I've been hunting without success elsewhere. Pity a lot of events around the relevant time are not on the internet. Here is something that I've just found which quotes the year 1870 which I've not seen mentioned in this context before. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threepence_(British_coin) Text: Victorian threepences were produced both for maundy use and for normal circulation in all years between 1838 and 1901 except 1847, 1848, and 1852 (probably because of the possible advent of a decimal currency at the time (see florin), when the 3d at 1/80th of a pound would not have fitted within a decimal system. Currency silver threepences from 1838 to 1926 were of identical design and cannot usually be distinguished except in the best conditions when the higher striking standard of the maundy coins stand out; this resulted in the curious legal anomaly that when the currency was decimalised in 1971 all silver threepences from 1870 onwards were revalued at three new pence, not just the maundy coins. Threepences were produced with both the "young head" (1838–1887) and "Jubilee head" (1887–1893), inscribed VICTORIA D G BRITANNIAR REGINA F D, while those produced with the "old head" (1893–1901) are inscribed VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP. My question now: Any ideas where I might find official reference to 1870 in this context? Thank you all for your interest in this. Bill.

Silver 3d was minted until 1945 but I remember them still in circulation well into the 1950s, not many, but a few. I think that you could be associating it with the change from silver to cupro-nickel in 1947. Again, please prove me wrong - that is the reason for asking the question. Bill.

My views on the name 'crown' is that if the once every-day 2/6d was a half crown, then the 5/- must be a crown, even after it was decimalised as 25p. Note that the Royal Mint has not stopped using the term. I believe (but can't prove) that the 5/- crown has not been demonetised, therefore presumably it would be still valid from the time of George IV. I am trying to establish whether my belief is correct. Regarding the present £5 coins, the Royal Mint persists in associating the word 'crown' with them but I cannot accept this. I prefer to call them 'crown size' coins. I believe that the 4/- double florin has never been demonetised. It is generally accepted (but is it true?) that the silver 3d and 4d (groat) are still not demonetised as they are regarded as Maundy money, being of the same grade of silver. Pre-decimal is acceptable at face value in new pence (i.e. 2.4 times its original value) back to George IV. I'm looking for someone to prove me wrong and say that ... was demonetised and say when. Challenge - prove me wrong! Bill.

My pleasure. Last weekend, I created a small group aimed at newcomers but which may be of interest. It is called 'Collecting UK Decimal Coins' and the address is http://groups.to/ukcoins but it is via Facebook, so you have to be a member of that first. I hope that nobody minds me advertising it here. UK decimals are such a small part of the coin world that I thought that a simple group dealing with that subject might be useful. If there's ever any way that I can be of assistance on the subject, please contact me, and I will also keep watching here to see if there's any assistance that I can give. Bill.

That gives the following - 2/- Florin - 30 Jun 1993 1/- Shilling - 31 Dec 1990 Bill.

Of course, I should have remembered that. Bill.

Within the last few weeks I received a 1996 £2 'Football' (monometal type) in my change at a local supermarket. It looks as though it's almost the first time that it has changed hands. I accepted it, said "Thanks" as though it was an everyday event and now it's in my collection. Bill.

Oops, sorry for the duplication, my editing went awry. I'll try harder next time. Bill.

Looks like the question still hasn't been answered. I will quote from the COIN YEARBOOK 2007, which is the only one I've got. 1970 Proof Last £sd coins (issued from 1972) Halfcrown-halfpenny (8 coins) ... ... FDC £18 1971 Proof (issued 1973) 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £12 1972 Proof (issued 1976) 50p-half penny (7 coins including Silver Wedding crown) ... ... FDC £15 1973 Proof (issued 1976) 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £14 1974 Proof (issued 1976) 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £16 1975 Proof (issued 1976) 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £16 1976 Proof 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £16 Later years are similar to 1976 without an issue date quoted. Hope this helps. Bill.

Looks like the question still hasn't been answered. I will quote from the COIN YEARBOOK 2007, which is the only one I've got. 1970 Proof Last £sd coins (issued from 1972) Halfcrown-halfpenny (8 coins) ... ... FDC £18 1971 Proof (issued 1973) 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £12 1972 Proof (issued 1976) 50p-half penny (7 coins including Silver Wedding crown) ... ... FDC £15 1973 Proof (issued 1976) 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £14 1974 Proof (issued 1976) 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £16 1975 Proof (issued 1976) 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £16 1976 Proof 50p-half penny (6 coins) ... ... FDC £16 Hope this helps. Bill. Later years similar to 1976, without an issue year quoted.

UK decimals are my 'speciality', but I've only started going direct to the Royal Mint within the last couple of weeks. 2008 - Still looking for both £2 Olympics issues, 50p Britannia, and the undated 20p mule. Also need both the £5. 2009 - Although I have everything issued to date from the Royal Mint as Proof/BU, the only one that I have from circulation is the 1p (lots of them). Bill.