Dedicated and expert account managers
Worlds first coin offers
Unrivalled 60 day satisfaction guarantee
Buy Back Offers. Total paid out: £5,301,642.60
Sell out guarantee on certain new strike coins
The Threepence or “Thruppence” or “Thrupenny Bit”, as it has often been referred to, is one of the most recognisable coins in British coinage. It has a long history, with many different monarch’s portraits adorning its obverse, and numerous different designs to its reverse. Here we specifically take a look at the coin from the reign of Queen Victoria through to it ceasing to become legal tender due to Decimalisation in 1971.
The “Crown” has a long history as a currency coin dating all the way back to the time of Henry VIII. In more recent times the crown has been struck as a commemorative coin to mark significant royal events such as birthdays, weddings or jubilees. Here, we take a look at the crown’s origins and how it has changed since then.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the decimalisation of British currency. On the 15th February 1971, also known as Decimal Day, the country switched to the decimal currency that we are used to today (multiples of 10 and 100). But why did this change occur?
Before this date, Britain used a monetary system that dated all the way back to the Roman Empire. The problem with this system however, is that the old Pounds, Shillings and Pence were based on multiples of 12 and 240. This, as you can imagine, made it very complicated and often confusing to the everyday person; 12 pennies in a shilling and 240 pennies in a pound! Now we’re looking at four things you want to know about Decimalisation…
Over the years, St George has continued to inspire people in many ways, striking a chord particularly with his namesake, King George IV. When George IV wanted to introduce a new coin, he decided on St George as the reverse subject.
The new gold sovereign was then created in 1817, designed by Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci. He took a different approach with his design, steering away from those that traditionally featured on coins. Pistrucci created a sense of movement, giving the saint the confidence and control while slaying the wounded dragon.
This coin design has become a classic, and is known across the world as a masterpiece of coin artistry; synonymous with the gold sovereign. In 1821, the classic design was altered and the Italian engraver produced his definitive St George and the dragon design, alongside a new portrait of King George IV.
And although St George and the dragon has graced gold sovereigns for 200 years, not since Pistrucci has the same designer created the artwork for both the monarch’s portrait and St George – until now! A new gold sovereign range has been minted, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the definitive design.
The 2021 George and the Dragon 200th Anniversary Gold Sovereign range features an exciting interpretation by talented artist Jody Clark, creator of the current coinage portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This also means that for the first time in 200 years, both the monarch’s portrait and the design of St George are the work of the same designer!
You can view the entire George and the Dragon range here.
There’s one coin in particular though that holds more meaning and beauty than any other, blending fact and fiction to produce what can only be described by many as the world’s most beautiful coin. Una and the Lion.
Then in 1817, the ‘new sovereign’ made its debut with a newly imagined design featuring St George slaying the dragon. The new design was created by Italian gem engraver Benedetto Pistrucci and was destined to become one of the world’s most loved coin designs.
Address For The Given PostalCode
