Important British and World Coins

Elizabeth II (1952-, Trial Currency set, series 1, comprising Twenty Pence, cupro-nickel, edge grained, 36mm, 22.77g; Ten Pence, cupro-nickel, edge grained, 28.5mm, 11.39g; Five Pence, cupro-nickel, edge grained, 24mm, 6.02g; Two Pence, bronze, edge plain, 26mm, 7.10g; Penny, bronze, edge plain, 20mm, 3.56g; Halfpenny, bronze, edge plain, 17mm, 2.00g, all with obvs. plain, revs. numerical mark of value [6]. All toned and some with light handling marks, otherwise as struck, a very significant set of the highest rarity (£500-700)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Joanna Tansley Collection of Patterns, Proofs and Coining Trials.

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Collection

Provenance:
Professor John Rimington, 1963
Spink Auction 124, 18-19 November 1997, lot 2263.

The Two Pence and Penny in this set are identical in composition, size and weight to the present pieces and they can thus be regarded as the unique lineal ancestors of today’s decimal bronze coins. This set represents the coinage actually recommended by the Committee in their report, it being a ‘given’ that the florin and shilling had to retain their existing size, shape and value at 10p and 5p respectively, while the weight of a 20p was similarly a ‘given’ although the large size of the coin was seen as a disadvantage. With this in mind the Committee asked the Mint to produce a stubbier 20p blank of the same weight, but was repelled by its appearance and, aided by the complete indifference of Sir Jack James to such a thick coin, the matter was quietly dropped