Even though decimalisation in Britain officially took place in 1971, there was a gradual introduction of the new coins, and so it is possible to find ten pence coins dated 1968. Unfortunately, though, they are worth little more than their face value.
The introduction of the new coins began with both the ten pence piece and the five pence piece in 1968. These coins were to replace the old shilling and florin coins. In theory, it was still possible to find silver coins from 1816 in circulation, but this wasn’t something that happened very often because of the withdrawal of silver in coins after 1947.
In October 1969, the 50 new pence piece was released in order to replace the ten shilling note, which became obsolete just over a year later, by which time the old halfpenny and half-crown were no longer legal tender, either. It took another year for the old penny and threepence coins (threepenny bit) to become withdrawn, just a mere six months after D-Day.
The sixpence coin was allowed to remain in circulation masquerading as two and a half new pence until the end of June 1980 for practical reasons. London Transport used coin operated machines for the Underground and no new coin was appropriate for them.
In 1982, the term ‘New Pence’ was dropped from coins because they no longer fitted this category, though there was a mistake made at the Royal Mint when a number of 1983 two pence coins were minted with the words ‘new pence’ on them. These coins can still be found today, although they are rare, and can fetch up to £500.
1982 saw the advent of the 20 pence coin, which today is the most commonly used coin, and the following year produced the pound coin, which initially caused an outcry because it felt that by making a pound into a coin devalued it.
The introduction of the new coins began with both the ten pence piece and the five pence piece in 1968. These coins were to replace the old shilling and florin coins. In theory, it was still possible to find silver coins from 1816 in circulation, but this wasn’t something that happened very often because of the withdrawal of silver in coins after 1947.
In October 1969, the 50 new pence piece was released in order to replace the ten shilling note, which became obsolete just over a year later, by which time the old halfpenny and half-crown were no longer legal tender, either. It took another year for the old penny and threepence coins (threepenny bit) to become withdrawn, just a mere six months after D-Day.
The sixpence coin was allowed to remain in circulation masquerading as two and a half new pence until the end of June 1980 for practical reasons. London Transport used coin operated machines for the Underground and no new coin was appropriate for them.
In 1982, the term ‘New Pence’ was dropped from coins because they no longer fitted this category, though there was a mistake made at the Royal Mint when a number of 1983 two pence coins were minted with the words ‘new pence’ on them. These coins can still be found today, although they are rare, and can fetch up to £500.
1982 saw the advent of the 20 pence coin, which today is the most commonly used coin, and the following year produced the pound coin, which initially caused an outcry because it felt that by making a pound into a coin devalued it.
