Introduction: In 1936, Edward VIII produced a stunning new set of designs for British coinage and, in addition to producing a new ‘brass’ threepence, his proposed silver threepence featured the three rings of St Edward on the reverse. Between the death of his father, George V, and his planned coronation King Edward VIII abdicated and…
Introduction: The silver threepences of George V are very popular amongst collectors and are readily available in coin dealers’ bulk boxes, and at coin fairs, exhibitions and car boot sales. There are four different types of George V threepence. Type 1: Sterling Silver issues (1911-1920) is dealt with separately. The three types dealt with in…
Introduction: Queen Victoria’s predecessor, William IV, issued a short run of silver threepences (minted in London) for use in the British West Indies, where the British Administration was trying to increase its influence by introducing a strong currency based on ‘good silver’ in British denominations. Silver threepences continued to be minted for the West Indies…
Introduction: The British gold sovereign is one of the most ‘collected’ gold coins in Ireland today. We used it when we were part of the UK and it would seem that we are still hoarding them. Named after the English gold sovereign, previously last minted in 1604, the name was revived with the Great Re-coinage…
Background: By 1947, towards the end of George VI’s reign, silver British coinage was no more. Silver was just too valuable a commodity to waste on coinage and, with the break up of the British Empire now inevitable, there as no need to ‘pretend’ British sterling was the world’s foremost currency. Many other currencies were…
Background The bronze Coinage of Queen Victoria was introduced in the year 1860, to replace the copper coinage first inaugurated by Charles II in 1672. This new alloy for coinage had several advantages over the old copper coins:- it was lighter, cheaper and had greater hardness / durability But bronze is not as easy to…
Background: Victoria, at that time, was the longest serving British monarch in history, so her son Edward was an old man by the time he succeeded her. Not a lot happened in terms of numismatic innovation during his short reign but it is, perhaps, worth mentioning that James Joyce had a few things to say…
Background: Edward VIII advised the Royal Mint that he wanted a modern coinage to reflect a modern Britain but, after his abdication, it was his younger brother (George VI) who inherited his new designs – the first of which was the farthing. A European Wren replaced Britannia on the reverse. This bird motif was similar…
The Half-Farthing This denomination was issued (for the first time) in 1828 – just a year after the third-farthing for use exclusively in Ceylon (now independent and known as Sri Lanka). Unlike the quarter- and third-farthing, the half-farthing it was made legal tender in the UK & Ireland in 1842 via a Royal Proclamation by…
Gold Coin Values Last updated – Friday, 18th September Daily updates have been discontinued I am frequently asked to value gold coins and this is a list of the more popular gold coins usually found in Ireland. In perfect condition, a gold coin has a fixed weight but, as they get worn and polished over…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 