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A British 1965 cupro-nickel Crown (Five Shillings)(Elizabeth II)(Churchill Commemorative), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £2 GBP. If it has been circulated, not much.

A British 1965 cupro-nickel Crown (Five Shillings)(Elizabeth II)(Churchill Commemorative - Satin finish "VIP" Specimen), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £1250 GBP (latest 2012 Spink value)

The values quoted are the best possible for the best specimens in their grades, but may be significantly lower due to varying demand for the coin and the prevailing economic climate. A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation based on inspection of the coin.

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British decimal general circulation coins are dimensioned as follows:

1 Penny (from 1968 - 1991) 20.32 mm diameter, 1.52 mm thick, weigh 3.56 grams and are made from 97% copper, 2.5% zinc and 0.5% tin. The edge is plain.

1 Penny (from 1992) 20.32 mm diameter, 1.65 mm thick, weigh 3.56 grams and are made from copper plated steel. The edge is plain.

2 Pence (from 1971 - 1991) 25.9 mm diameter, 1.85 mm thick, weigh 7.12 grams and are made from 97% copper, 2.5% zinc and 0.5% tin. The edge is plain.

2 Pence (from 1992) 25.9 mm diameter, 2.03 mm thick, weigh 7.12 grams and are made from copper plated steel. The edge is plain.

5 Pence (from 1990 - 2011) 18 mm diameter, 1.7 mm thick, weigh 3.25 grams and are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel. The edge is milled.

5 Pence (from 2011) 18 mm diameter, 1.7 mm thick, weigh 3.25 grams and are made from nickel plated steel. The edge is milled.

10 Pence (from 1992 - 2011) 24.5 mm diameter, 1.85 mm thick, weigh 6.5 grams and are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel. The edge is milled.

10 Pence (from 2011) 24.5 mm diameter, 1.85 mm thick, weigh 6.5 grams and are made from nickel plated steel. The edge is milled.

20 Pence (from 1982) 21.4 mm diameter, 1.7 mm thick, weigh 5 grams and are made from 84% copper and 16% nickel, and are seven sided or heptagonal. The edge is plain.

25 Pence (from 1972 - 1981) 38.61 mm diameter, 2.5 mm thick, weigh 28.28 grams and are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel. The edge is milled. During their period of issue, they were referred to as a Crown due to them being of the same dimensions as the pre-decimal Crown coin. These coins were discontinued from 1982 but remain legal tender. Circulation of these coins is uncommon.

50 Pence (from 1997) 27.3 mm diameter, 1.78 mm thick, weigh 8 grams and are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel, and are seven sided or heptagonal. The edge is plain.

1 Pound (from 1983) 22.5 mm diameter, 3.15 mm thick, weigh 9.5 grams and are made from 70% copper, 24.5% zinc and 5.5% nickel. The edge is milled with incuse lettering or ornamentation.

2 Pound (from 1986 -1996) 28.4 mm diameter, 3.1 mm thick, weigh 15.98 grams and are made from 70% copper, 24.5% zinc and 5.5% nickel. The edge is milled with incuse lettering. Due to them being issued as commemoratives, circulation of these coins is uncommon.

2 Pound (from 1997) 28.4 mm diameter, 2.5 mm thick, weigh 12 grams and are bimetal made from 76% copper, 20% zinc and 4% nickel in the outer ring, and the centre is 25% nickel and 75% copper. The edge is milled with incuse lettering.

5 Pound (from 1990) 38.61 mm diameter, 2.89 mm thick, weigh 28.28 grams and are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel. The edge is milled. Intended as a souvenir or collectible, but occasionally seen in circulation. These coins are now referred to as a Crown due to them being of the same dimensions as the pre-decimal Crown coin.

The following are specifications of British decimal coins which have been demonetised and are no longer legal tender. Unless they are uncirculated or Proof, they have minimal collector value.

Half Penny (from 1971 - 1984) 17.14 mm diameter, 1 mm thick, weigh 1.78 grams and are made from 97% copper. The edge is plain.

5 Pence (from 1968 - 1989) 23.59 mm diameter, weigh 3.25 grams and are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel. The edge is milled.

10 Pence (from 1968 - 1992) 28.5 mm diameter, weigh 11.31 grams and are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel. The edge is milled.

50 Pence (from 1969 - 1996) 30 mm diameter, 1.78 mm thick, weigh 13.5 grams and are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel, and are seven sided or heptagonal. The edge is plain.

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Unless the coins are uncirculated, they are worth very little; and since so many of these coins were saved, even the uncirculated sets will bring only a small premium. If they are proof coins (specially struck with polished dies) they are worth more; but they are still not going to bring a high price at the local coin shop.

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A British 1977 cupro-nickel Crown (25 Pence)(Elizabeth II)(Silver Jubilee Commemorative), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £1.50 GBP.

A British 1977 cupro-nickel Crown (25 Pence)(Elizabeth II)(Silver Jubilee Commemorative)(Specimen in presentation folder), could fetch up to £2 GBP.

A British 1977 cupro-nickel Crown (25 Pence)(Elizabeth II)(Silver Jubilee Commemorative)(Proof FDC), could fetch up to £5 GBP.

A British 1977 Crown (25 Pence)(Elizabeth II)(Silver Jubilee Commemorative)(Silver Proof in case FDC), could fetch up to £22 GBP.

The values quoted are the best possible for the best specimens in their grades, but may be significantly lower due to varying demand for the coin and the prevailing economic climate. A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation based on inspection of the coin.

NOTE - The 25 Pence coin was known as a Crown from its first issue in 1972 until 1990 when the Five Pound coin, being of similar size, became known as the Crown and the 25 Pence coin was discontinued.

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The 1986 British Two Pound coin is a commemorative coin for the 13th Commonwealth Games held in Scotland.

Although coin was issued as a commemorative rather than a general circulation coin, it is still legal tender in the United Kingdom.

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The Royal Mint did not produce any Crown (Five Shilling) coins from 1903 to 1926 inclusive, Proof, pattern or otherwise.

It is quite unusual that no 1911 Crown was produced since it was the Coronation year of George V.

All British "silver" coins minted prior to 1920 contained 92.5% silver.

There was a silver Proof FDC Halfcrown coin minted in 1911.

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A Shilling coin is a denomination of the old redundant predecimal British currency system and dates back to the time of Henry VII when it was known as a "Testoon". It became known as a "Shilling" around 1550 when due to financial necessity, Edward the VI was required to produce coins of value where the metal in the coin did not exceed the face value of the coin.

The Shilling coin was also used by many other Commonwealth countries including Australia and New Zealand.

The name "Shilling" was derived from the word "Schilling" which is an Anglo-Saxon term referring to the value of livestock. The relationship to the German and Austrian Schilling is unclear and is possibly just a coincidence.

Originally, the Shilling was made from silver of varying quality and from 1551, they were made from 0.925 "sterling" silver. From about 1919 the silver content was reduced to 0.500 and from 1947 they were made from a copper/nickel alloy.

Since 1816, the Shilling has varied from 23 to 23.6 mm in diameter and weighed from 5.61 to 5.65 grams.

A Shilling coin represented 12 Pence (12d) or, 1/20th of a Sovereign or 1/20th of a Pound.

A common slang term for the Shilling was a "bob", which gave rise to the Scouting tradition of "Bob a job week" where Scouts would perform requested household tasks for friends and neighbours for the cost of a "bob".

The British Shilling was last minted for circulation in 1966. At Britain's conversion to decimal currency in February, 1971, the Shilling coin converted to 5 New Pence in the new currency. In most other Commonwealth countries, the Shilling converted to 10 cents at decimalisation.

Shillings and the old style 5 Pence coins co-circulated up till the early 1990's when new and much smaller 5 Pence coins were introduced. All older 5 Pence and 1 Shilling coins were then withdrawn from circulation and demonetised in 1991.

From a coin collectors perspective, a Shilling coin, depending on the year, condition and method of minting, could be worth anything from a few Pounds to several thousand Pounds GBP.

Please note that since the Shilling is part of a redundant or obsolete currency, it no longer has an "exchange rate" with other currencies.

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One 1960 British Pound would have the purchasing power of about Twenty-five British Pounds today

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1889 Victoria 'Jubilee Head' silver threepences were struck in 0.925 (92.5%)silver and 4,587,010 were struck that year. The coin in ordinary circulated condition is worth about 50p to £1. In mint condition it is worth about £20. Try not to confuse this coin with the Maundy Threepence which is very similar. The Maundy threepence coin has a more proof-like (mirror reflective) surface.

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Offering the "King's Shilling" was something of an enticement to lure men into military service many years ago.

The men who accepted the "King's Shilling" were possibly drunk or desperate for the cash and found themselves signed up for a lengthy term in the service of His Majesty.

The practice of offering the "King's Shilling" ceased many years ago and in todays litigious environment of OH&S and EEO, would probably be considered to be coercion, bribery, deceitful, an infringement of civil liberties or, at best, illegal.

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There were seven different unimetallic commemorative Two Pound coins issued from 1986 to 1996.

From 1997, there one or two different Two Pound coins issued in most years.

See the link below to the Royal Mint.

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Back in the old days when higher value coins were most commonly made from precious metals, it was the practice of many people to shave the precious metal off the edge of the coin and accumulate a little stock of silver or gold.

To combat this, many mints commenced minting coins with reeding on the edge to make it more difficult to shave off the metal.

Further to the reeding, many coins were also produced with incuse (sunken) lettering around the edge to make it more difficult again to shave the coins. The incuse lettering also served as an indicator if any metal had been shaved off.

The most common incuse lettering around the British One Pound coin is "DECUS ET TUTAMEN" meaning, "an ornament and a safeguard".

These days it is mostly ornamental since there are no circulating British coins made from precious metals.

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The copper content of 20th century British predecimal Pennies, Halfpennies and Farthings varied from 95.5 to 97%.

When the use of silver in coins was discontinued after 1946, all British "silver" coins were made from a copper-nickel alloy consisting most commonly of 75% and 25% nickel.

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Coins returned to the Royal Mint because they are worn, damaged or mutilated, or coins that were minted surplus to requirements, are melted down and recycled into new coins if possible or applicable.

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During the period 1860 - 1862 the Royal Mint's coinage was changing from copper (up to 1859) to Bronze. In 1861 many varieties have been recorded of this date. The most common however is known as the FREEMAN 33 (consult Michael Freeman's 'The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain') which fetches anywhere between £2-3 up to £180 - £200. If the 8 is struck over a 6 (FREMMAN 33A) then values rise significantly. I sold an 8 over a 6 3 years ago in near mint state for £3,200. Remember, condition is vital with these coins. Those that are worn or multilated have little, if any, value

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A British 1859 Halfpenny, uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £130 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch up to £5 to £45 GBP. A British 1859/8 Halfpenny, uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £225 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch up to £10 to £75 GBP. A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

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Ludwig Christian Lauer was a German coin manufacturer who made British 'TOY' coins. They have very little, if any, collectors' value. You could do more research on LAUER by contacting Spink's Coin Department in London on 0207 563 4000.

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British gold coins have been called various names. The sovereign (equivalent to £1) has been given its name for 100s of years back to mediaeval times. The modern sovereign (with George and the Dragon on the 'tails' or reverse side) has been struck continually since 1816 in Great Britain. It contains 0.2354 Troy Ounces of gold. They are strictly speaking 22 carat gold alloyed with copper to harden them.

Names such as 'Unite' and 'Angel' were used for very old gold coins. The guinea is probably one of the best known (at the time being worth £1.05 or 21 shillings). These were struck in large numbers in the 18th century, particularly during the reign of George III in the UK (1760 - 1820). The rarer guinea dates i.e. 1763 or 1764 can be worth upwards of £3,000 - £5,000 in mint condition.

The rarest modern sovereign is 1819. Only 3,574 were struck according to Royal Mint records. These are worth from £20,000 - £200,000 depending on grade.

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The UK consists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Bank of England is the sole issuing authority for banknotes in England and Wales.

Scottish banknotes may be issued by the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank.

Four Northern Ireland banks practice their right to issue banknotes, being the Bank of Ireland, the First Trust Bank, the Northern Bank and the Ulster Bank.

The banknotes of all Northern Ireland and Scottish banks are backed by the Bank of England.

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A British (QE II) 1956 Sixpence looks almost identical to all Sixpences minted from 1954 to 1967.

See the link below.

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A British 1901 bronze Penny (Victoria), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £35 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £1 to £10 GBP.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

A common date that is unlikely to sell except in unusually good condition but at the time of writing this, an uncirculated one on eBay is not selling for £15. The prices above are simply quoted from Spink and the market is flat.

The market is indeed flat and many answers given on this site about British coins have been straight quotes from Spink and as such, hopelessly unrealistic and discredited. Prices on eBay are much better indicators of sale price expectations. The previous update to the first reply is absolutely spot on.

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The British Ten Pence coin was not issued until 1968.