Important British and World Coins, Numismatic Books

Elizabeth II (1952- ), Twenty Pence [1963], a uniface trial for the obv. by A. Machin, in cupro-nickel, bust right, edge grained, 22.50g (L & S 11; Davis p.118). Extremely fine and extremely rare (£300-400)

A limited competition between invited artists for a new decimal currency was put in hand as soon as the Committee was set up in December 1961. The winner was adjudged to be Christopher Ironside. Trial strikings were made of Mr Ironside’s designs, coupled with a new obverse by Arnold Machin, but the change of government following the 1964 General Election caused a temporary shelving of the project. The formal decision to decimalise Britain’s currency was announced by the then Chancellor, James Callaghan (1912-2005), on 1 March 1966