Lot 2981
Great Britain. Elizabeth II, Royal Mint, undated (circa 1967-1968) official set. 10 Pence and 5 Pence in cupro-nickel, 2 Pence, 1 Pence and Half Penny in bronze. Struck by the Royal Mint in advance of the decimalisation process. Obverse, numerals denoting denomination. Reverse, plain or Royal Mint logo. Excessively rare as a set. Mint state. Sold with a group of the actual first 5 decimal coin denominations issued. 1968 5 Pence, MS-65, and the 1968 10 Pence NGC graded MS-64; 1971 Halfpenny, Penny and 2 Pence NGC graded MS-64 Red and Brown; Numeral ½ NGC graded MS 64 Red; Numeral 1 NGC graded MS-63 RB; Numeral 2 NGC graded MS-64 RB; Numeral 5 NGC graded MS-66; Numeral 10 NGC grade.
*In 1968, three years before Britain adopted a totally new decimal currency, the Royal Mint produced a set of 5 coins in a blue wallet, to show the public how the new coinage would look. Although distributed in 1968 the nickel coins were dated 1968, but the 3 bronze coins were post-dated to 1971.
There was a Decimal Currency Board set up, with Chairman Lord Fiske supervising the changeover, and the conversion to decimal currency - probably the greatest coinage change ever experienced in the United Kingdom - continued gradually over the next three years. Only the 10 Pence, 5 Pence, 2 pence, 1 Penny and ½ Penny were available in 1968, as the 50 Pence coin (to replace the 10 Shilling banknote) was not introduced until the following year.
The obverse of the new coins featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin and the reverse designs were by Christopher Ironside.
Before the large numbers of 5-coin wallet sets of coins were produced, the Royal Mint made a few (possibly only 3 or 4) official sets of trial coins, which replicated the size, weight and metal of the planned currency coins, but had the numerals 10, 5, 2, 1 and ½ in the place of the Queen's portrait, to represent the new denominations. These pieces have the correct milled/reeded edges on the nickel pieces and plain edges on the bronze. The 3 larger pieces have the Royal Mint logo on the reverse.
This set of decimal trials or patterns is an important piece of Britain's numismatic history. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600
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| Realized $1,528 |
