British Coins

The British 1896 Penny was almost identical to all British Pennies minted from 1895 to 1901 inclusive.

They were minted at the Royal Mint London in 1896 and were made from bronze (95% copper, 4% tin and 1% zinc), weighed 9.467 grams and were 30.81 mm in diameter.

The obverse featured Queen Victoria with what is variously known as the "Old veiled bust" or the "Widow head bust" designed by Thomas Brock.

The reverse featured the seated figure of Britannia holding a trident and shield designed by Leonard Charles Wyon.

The inscription "VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP" is abbreviated Latin, variations of which have been used on British coins for many years. It translates as "Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of Britain, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India".

With the possible exception of traders tokens (with the traders business name on them), there were no "Australian" coins minted prior to 1910.

Any coins circulating in Australia prior to 1910, were British coins.

There was a period from 1855 to 1870 when Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns were minted at the newly opened Sydney Mint and had the words "Australia" and "Sydney Mint" on them. These coins were minted for local circulation since the gold had been mined in Australia.

Beyond that, all Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns minted in Australia, were British coins minted to the British pattern.

In 1940 through 1946, half crowns weighed 14.138 grams and were 50% silver - they thus contained 0.2273 troy ounces of silver. In 1947, the half crown (and all other "silver" British coins) were changed to cupro-nickel, and thus contain no silver at all.

Depends where you are. In most countries, it is totally illegal to deface currency. In others, it is illegal to deface them up to the point where they can no longer be used as currency.

Any coin with a "genuine" minting flaw would have some value, above the usual, as a collectible coin.

Genuinely flawed coins are not necessarily known about or documented until somebody turns up with one, since they are an "accident" of the minting process, and have escaped detection during quality control at the mint therefore, a valuation cannot be anticipated.

A reputable coin dealer should be able to identify and confirm the coin as genuine and make a valuation.

Flaws and errors on coins should not be confused with mutilation or mangling of the coin.

There were no 1990 British Two Pound coins minted.

A British 1904 bronze Farthing (Edward VII), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £23 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £2 to £8 GBP.

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

Bullion refers to a precious metal, most commonly gold and silver when dealing with coins, but there are many other precious metals that could be referred to as bullion.

The bullion value of anything, such as a coin, is the value of the gold it is made from and has nothing to do with the coin itself.

The bullion value of any precious metal will change on an hourly basis entirely on the whims of the market.

They used 92.5% silver till 1920

They used 50% silver till 1947

A British 1562 Groat (Fourpence)(Queen Elizabeth I - Second Issue), circulated but still in good condition, might fetch anything from £75 to £250 GBP. A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

A 'score' is slang for a £20 note as it is for all items having a total of 20.

The banknote you describe does not exist.

G.M. Gill was Chief Cashier of the Bank of England from 1988 to 1991.

Please submit a new question including the serial number of the note.

With a mintage of 75 million it may be worth about .10 with heavy wear to around .15 with moderate wear to maybe .25 with light wear to perhaps $5 if uncirculated. You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.

A Farthing coin is a denomination of the old redundant predecimal British currency system and dates back to the 13th century.

The name "Farthing" was derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "Feorthing" which is a Forthling or a fourth part.

Originally, the Farthing was made from silver of varying quality and from 1558, they were made from copper and eventually bronze from 1860.

Since 1816, the Farthing has varied from 20 to 23.5mm in diameter and weighed from 2.821 to 4.749 grams.

A Farthing coin represented 1/4 of a Penny (1/4d) or, 1/48th of a Shilling or, 1/960th of a Sovereign or 1/960th of a Pound.

The last Farthing was minted in 1956, but they continued to be used until 1960 when they had become virtually worthless, and were demonetised on the 31st of December, 1960.

At Britains conversion to decimal currency there was no equivalent coin, but the Farthing coin converts to 0.104 New Pence in the new currency.

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

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

You have given the barest minimum of information.

Your Bank of England Ten Shilling banknote is probably a Series "C" Red/Brown 1967 issue with the Chief Cashier as J.S. Forde.

Uncirculated and in absolute mint condition, itcould fetch anything up to £10 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £2 to £5 GBP.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to indentify it conclusively and give a more accurate valuation.

A British 1967 bronze Halfpenny (Elizabeth II), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £0.50 GBP. If it has been circulated, not much.

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

1967 was the last year that Halfpennies were issued for circulation prior to the change to decimal currency.

The Bank of England Five Pound note featuring Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) is the current issue of the Bank of England Five Pound note and is worth Five Pounds. It is not rare or unique.

An uncirculated note in absolute mint condition might get up to £8 GBP.

The name "groat" was derived from any one of many medieval European coins such as the "gros tournois" the "groot" of the "groschen" to mention a few.

The term was applied to any large silver coin.

The English Groat was a large silver coin when it was introduced during the 13th century.

If you refer to the decimal unimetallic Two Pound coins issued from 1986 to 1996, these coins are considered to be legal tender although they were not intended for general circulation, but as a commemorative coin.

If you take one of these to your local bank, they will give you Two Pounds for it.

Due to the steep rise in the price of silver around the end of World War 1, the issue of standard 92.5% sterling silver coins was discontinued in 1919/1920 and coins of 50% silver were minted instead.

In 1947, silver was needed to repay the bullion lent by the USA during the World War 2 years, so silver coins were replaced with coins of the same weight and type made of cupro-nickel from 1947 onwards.

Silver Threepences were discontinued completely in 1942 and replaced with the 12 sided nickel-brass Threepence.

A small number (perhaps in the neighborhood of half a dozen to a dozen) British proof halfpennies were struck on the larger pre-1860 copper planchets and retain the earlier halfpenny design with the date appearing on the obverse of the coin rather than the reverse.

As noted they are extremely rare and will cost you a pretty penny (or halfpenny). A well-known numismatic establishment currently has one for sale at £8,750

"In memory of the good old days" was a slogan used on souvenir tokens and medallions for at least two to three hundred years.

The tokens come in different sizes and are made from different metals and have the monarchs image on one side with the year. They were often made to very roughly simulate a coin of the period and frequently have a hole in them or a loop for use in threading them on to a chain or necklace, etc.

They would have no value unless made from a precious metal.

The Bank of England One Pound note was last issued in 1984 and ceased to be legal tender in March 1988, after the introduction of the One Pound coin in 1983.

The coin you describe is a Gibraltar One Pound coin commemorating the discovery of a Neanderthal skull in 1848.

These coins are still in circulation so, unless they are part of a Proof or Uncirculated mint set or are individual Proof or Uncirculated coins and in absolute mint condition, they are worth One Pound in Gibraltar.