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Edward VIII (1936), Pattern Threepence, 1937, by T.H. Paget and Madge Kitchener, in nickel-brass, bust left, rev. thrift plant with three flower heads within linear inner circle, dividing date, edge plain, thinner flan, 5.20g/12h (Dyer pl.G, 7; BMC 2366; S 4064; cf. Baldwin Auction 15, lot 56). Extremely fine and extremely rare (£15,000-20,000)

Illustrated on the back cover.


The reverse design of a thrift plant, or sea-pink, originates from a set of sketches submitted by Frances Madge Kitchener in June 1936 for the new silver threepence of Edward VIII. However, the decision had been taken to phase out the small silver coin and replace it with a new nickel-brass piece, the exact shape and size of which was being debated by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee during the summer of 1936. Following the decision to make the coin 12-sided, Miss Kitchener submitted a further model in September 1936. Trial pieces of various thicknesses were struck and used to test the reaction of interested parties, like slot machine manufacturers (Dyer, p.23). Not all were subsequently recovered by the Mint and it is believed that up to a dozen escaped into circulation at the time