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…
Background: George VI’s reign included the economically disastrous Word War II which culminated in his overseeing the dismantling of the British Empire to the point where it had to be transformed into a weaker / less cohesive British Commonwealth. The biggest loss was the independence and breakup of India into three nation states – India,…
Background: By the end of George V’s reign the threepence had become unpopular in England because of its small size but it remained popular in Scotland. It was consequently decided to introduce a more substantial ‘thru’penny bit’ which would have a more convenient weight/value ratio than the silver coinage. The silver threepence continued to be…
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 Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 