Timeline of the British Coins of Queen Elizabeth II

Timeline of the British Coins of Queen Elizabeth II

Throughout her incredible seventy-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II appeared on a multitude of different coins, from pre-decimal to now. The very first coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was created by Mary Gillick in 1953, and was used on coins in the United Kingdom and other countries until 1970.

Here, we will be looking back at the British coins of Queen Elizabeth II through the years.

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The Striking of Bi-Metallic Coins

Bi-Metallic One Pound Coin

Our latest release, the 2022 St George and the Dragon Bi-Metallic Gold Sovereign Range, are the world’s first gold sovereign coins to be struck using two types of solid 22 carat gold, also known as bi-metallic. We are already familiar with bi-metallic coins in circulation. However, this is the first time this technically demanding form of striking has been attempted with gold coins.

In our latest blog, we will be exploring the process of striking bi-metallic coins…

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Crown Coin

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.

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Decimalisation: Four Things You Want To Know

Decimalisation

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…

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How to Guide: Looking after your coin collection

Now you’ve started your coin collection and are enjoying adding world-first and limited edition coins to your collection, it is important to understand how to take care of your collection and prevent any damage.

Here, we will be explaining how to store, handle and enjoy your coin collection so that you can treasure them and keep them in mint condition for future generations.

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