British Coins

These coins are still potentially 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 20 Pence.

A Bank of England 1947 "white" Five Pound note (Chief Cashier K.O. Peppiatt - depending on the serial number), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch anything from £240 up to £400 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £35 to £300 GBP.

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

A British 1843 gold Sovereign (Victoria), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £700 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £165 to £375 GBP.

A British 1843 gold Sovereign (Victoria)(Roman "I" in date), circulated but still in good condition, might fetch anything from £600 to £1,150 GBP.

A British 1843/2 gold Sovereign (Victoria), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £2,000 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £200 to £875 GBP.

A British 1843 gold Sovereign (Victoria)(smaller narrower shield, modified floral emblems and leaf arrangements), circulated but still in good condition, might fetch anything from £3,000 to £5,750 GBP.

NOTE - The reverse of these coins is upside down to the obverse. This is normal.

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.

One Pound GBP in 1931 had the purchasing power of about £45.30 GBP today.

NOTE - This historical conversion is the result of many calculations and considerations by a purpose designed program for which I can take no credit. The resulting answer should only be regarded as an approximation.

Britain has never issued 1¢ coins. In the US and Canada, "penny" is common slang for a 1-cent coin but in the UK, the penny is a specific denomination. Please see the Related Question for more information.

A 'shilling' is a unit of currency which used to be used in Britain. For centuries shillings were made from silver but after 1946 they were made from copper-nickel.

There's no such coin. A pre-decimal British penny was a coin worth 1d and a threepence coin was worth 3d. Saying "three pence penny" would be roughly similar to saying "30 cent dime", LOL!

If you're referring to a 1964 threepence, please see the Related Question for more information.

Yes, the Five Pound (Crown) coin is legal tender in the United Kingdom in values up to any amount.

Despite being fully legal tender the Five Pound (Crown) coin will often be refused in shops simply because it is not commonly seen in circulation. The reason for this is that, though the coin is of a standard size and weight, it has no standard face designs, the coins are always of a commemorative nature and so are often kept away in private collections.

There is no way to force an individual to accept any form of payment, including legal tender. Transactions in the UK are always a mutual agreement between two parties.

The Post Office have stated that they are happy to receive the coin as payment for goods and services. A bank should also be able to exchange the coin for change or a banknote, or you can deposit it into an account.

Back in the distant past, most coins were made from either gold, silver or copper.

During the 20th Century, due to large increases in the prices of most metals, there was a trend away from traditional metals towards alloys like copper and nickel (cupro/nickel), or copper, zinc and tin or nickel (bronze).

More recently, there has been a trend towards cheaper metals again like steel and alloys which include aluminum and smaller quantities of nickel and copper.

Many steel coins are plated with nickel or copper to make them a little more attractive.

A British 1919 bronze Farthing (George V), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £15 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything up to £3 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.

A British 1915 bronze Penny (KG V), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £55 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £3 to £18 GBP.

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

This is another coin that is unlikely to achieve the Spink catalogue prices quoted here because it is too common. The coins that will sell are uncirculated ones and one sold on eBay for £44.50 but only because it had been slabbed and graded.

A British 1843 sterling silver Shilling (QV), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £450 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £25 to £200 GBP.

NOTE - The reverse of these coins is upside down to the obverse. This is normal.

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.

The Bank of England first issued paper money in 1694, but these were for irregular, and usually large amounts.

The first ever British Pound notes were issued in 1797, but this was not on a permanent basis.

The regular issue of the British Pound and Ten Shilling note began in 1915 when they replaced the gold Sovereign and half-Sovereign, due to financial pressures brought about by WW1.

The One Pound note was last issued in December, 1984, and demonetised and withdrawn in 1988 after being replaced by a nickel/brass coin in 1983.

The weight of a £1 coin is 9.5 grams. Therefore 5,000 would weigh 47,500 grams. This equates to: 47.5 kilo 105 lb Curiously, at todays' market values, this weight in gold (105lb) would be worth $1,464,320. 5000lb of gold (which, lest we forget, is what the currency used to be based upon) would be worth over $70million

240 pennies in a pound up to Sunday 14 February 1971. From Monday 15 February 1971 onwards 100. Simples.

It is Latin, but abbreviated. The expression "GEORGIVS V" identifies the reigning Monarch of the period, in this case, King George V. It does not identify the country or the denomination of the coin. "DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP" means "By the Grace of God, King of all the British territories, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India".

Gold sovereigns were first minted in 1817.

The first circulating decimal £1 coins were released in 1983.

This is a beautiful silver coin of course - I bought one in very fine condition for $25 in the year 2000. eBay is probably your best bet if you are seeking to buy one. Your local precious metals dealer probably wouldn't give you any more than the silver value if you wanted to sell it - maybe $10-$15.

1 Penny GBP in 1970 had the purchasing power of about £0.045 GBP today.

NOTE - This historical conversion is the result of many calculations and considerations for which I cannot take credit. The resulting answer should only be regarded as an approximation.

The diameter of an 1826 British Sixpence is 19 mm.

Therefore the radius (r) is 9.5 mm.

The formula for calculating the circumference of a circle is 2 x Pi x r .

The circumference of an 1826 British Sixpence is 59.69 mm.

These coins are still potentially 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 Jersey.

The Bailiwick of Jersey currency (JEP) is pegged at par with the British Pound Sterling (GBP) and the Jersey decimal coinage is near identical in dimensions, composition and history to the equivalent British coins. Jersey currency is "legal tender" only in Jersey, but may be regarded as "acceptable tender" in Britain.

A Bailiwick of Jersey 1988 nickel-brass One Pound coin (Elizabeth II), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £3 GBP.

A Bailiwick of Jersey 1988 One Pound coin (Elizabeth II)(Proof in silver), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £15 GBP.

A Bailiwick of Jersey 1988 One Pound coin (Elizabeth II)(Proof in gold), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £400 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.

A British 1895 22 carat gold Sovereign (Victoria)(minted in London - no mintmark), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £200 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, bullion value or more.

A British 1895 22 carat gold Sovereign (Victoria)(minted in Melbourne - mintmark = M), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £185 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, bullion value or more.

A British 1895 22 carat gold Sovereign (Victoria)(minted in Sydney - mintmark = S), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £195 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, bullion value or more.

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.

At the time of writing - January 2011 - gold is riding high and the above prices are quoted from Spink 2010. At the moment, a figure of £235 or better would be a realistic realisation for a really nice coin from any of the mints.

because there were 83 million cents minted in 1923 but only 7 million in 1922. In addition, a few of the cents minted in 1922 are missing the mintmark. This is one of the most popular error coins in existence - scarce enough that you are unlikely to ever own one yet common enough that you can always hope to.

A British 1911 bronze Penny (George V), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to £45 GBP. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from £2 to £10 GBP.

The values quoted are the best available, 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.

If you refer to demonetised British decimal coins, some banks may accept them from account holding customers at face value, but they are under no obligation to do so.

Alternatively, you could hang on to them and give them to your grand children in years to come when they might be a novelty, or perhaps even worth something.