Latest news and updates on British numismatic - Coins, banknotes, tokens
April 15, 2026
Freddie Mercury Collectible Coins
In 2025, The Royal Mint released a series of coins to celebrate one of the greatest showmen of all time, Freddie Mercury. The coins capture Mercury mid-performance at the height of his powers, showcasing the flamboyant frontman in full flow with his signature inscribed alongside his portrait.
April 13, 2026
Half Farthing 1828 to 1856 - Price Guide and values
The coins were minted in copper for use in British Ceylon in various years between 1828 and 1856, and as a bronze proof coin in 1868. In 1842, they were also declared legal tender in the United Kingdom. Half farthings were demonetised along with all other British copper coins on 31 December 1869.
April 10, 2026
Shilling 1816 to 1901 - Price Guide and values
The Royal Mint undertook a massive recoinage programme in 1816, with large quantities of gold and silver coin being minted. Previous issues of silver coinage had been irregular, and the last issue, minted in 1787, was not intended for issue to the public. New silver coinage was to be of .925.
April 7, 2026
Penny 1971 to 2026 - Specifications and features added
Before the Royal Arms, the reverse design on the penny was a crowned portcullis, heavy castle gate made of metal strips that form a grid often found in medieval fortifications, surrounded by chains was chosen. The first copper-plated steel 1p coins were struck in 1992. The reason for this change was the increase in the price of metals on the world markets. The coins have a mild steel core and are electroplated with copper - consequently, they are magnetic. In October 2023 the King Charles III one penny coin was presented; the coin design features a hazel dormouse.
April 6, 2026
6 Pence 1816 to 1901 - Price Guide and values
The Royal Mint undertook a massive recoinage programme in 1816, with large quantities of gold and silver coin being minted. Previous issues of silver coinage had been irregular, and the previous issue, minted in 1787, had done little to alleviate the chronic shortage of silver coinage in general circulation.
April 3, 2026
1 Pound 2011 to 2026 - Price Guide and values
By 1980, it had become apparent, that with the general decline in purchasing power, the £1 unit of currency was more appropriate to a coin than a banknote. The note was in constant use and, on average, each note only lasted nine months. Through the years, multiple reverse designs were used for this denomination. In October 2023, the King Charles III 1 Pound coin was presented; the coin design features bees.
April 1, 2026
From the archives: East India Portcullis Money
In the 1570s and 80s Portugal had built up a trade monopoly with the East. This was undermined in the 1590s by two works published by the Dutch geographer Jan Huyghen van Linschoten. Translations of these two works with their invaluable sailing directions for Eastern waters were eagerly sought by European merchants. An expedition to the East Indies for spices was set up by a Dutch consortium on nine merchants in 1594. They despatched four ships commanded by Cornelis Houtman, taking nearly 15 months to reach the north-east coast of Java at Bantam.
March 30, 2026
Double Florin 1887 to 1890 - Price Guide and values
The double florin is one of the shortest-lived of all British coin denominations and was only minted between 1887 and 1890. The double florin was introduced as part of a coinage redesign that took place in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. One purpose of the redesign was to replace portraits of the queen which had changed little since her youth, and which no longer resembled the monarch, who was nearing her seventieth birthday. The double florin in particular was criticised as it was close in size to the five-shilling crown, leading to confusion, especially since neither coin was inscribed with its denomination.
March 27, 2026
3 pence - 1902 to 1970 - Price Guide
During the 20th century changing habits and customs again rendered the threepenny piece unpopular, and to meet criticism of its small size a 12-sided nickel-brass piece of the same denomination but weighing almost five times as much as its silver counterpart was introduced in 1937. Its dumpiness and unusual shape aroused mixed feelings but in 1941 it had almost completely superseded its silver rival and was even being acclaimed by bus conductors and others as the easiest coin to recognise during the blackouts of the Second World War.
March 24, 2026
Commemorative Coins for the 30 Years of Girl Power with Official UK Spice Girls
The Spice Girls are the latest artists to join The Royal Mint's ongoing Music Legends coin series, celebrating the greatest singers and songwriters in British history. The series, which has previously honoured Freddie Mercury, Elton John, David Bowie, George Michael, Shirley Bassey and Paul McCartney, has proved hugely popular with collectors and music fans, delivering over half a million coins to enthusiasts in 111 countries around the world.
March 22, 2026
Half Penny 1971 to 1984 - Specifications and features added
The British decimal halfpenny coin was introduced in February 1971, but ignored in banking transactions. It became Britain's least favourite coin. The coin was demonetised and withdrawn from circulation in December 1984, even if The Treasury argued that this denomination was important against inflation, as it prevented prices from being rounded up. The design on the reverse of the coin is a representation of St Edward's Crown.
March 22, 2026
1 Pound 1983 to 1990 - Price Guide and values
By 1980, it had become apparent, that with the general decline in purchasing power, the £1 unit of currency was more appropriate to a coin than a banknote. The note was in constant use and, on average, each note only lasted nine months. Through the years, multiple reverse designs were used for this denomination.
March 21, 2026
Penny 1902 to 1970 - Price Guide and values
George V pennies were produced every year to the same standard until 1922, but after a three-year gap in production the alloy composition was changed to 95.5% copper, 3% tin and 1.5% zinc. Pennies were not minted every year of George VI's reign. The pre-decimal penny was demonetised on 1 September 1971, just over six months after decimalisation, and replaced (in effect) by the decimal half new penny, with ½p being worth 1.2d.
March 18, 2026
From the archives: The Conte Collection of Norman Coins
The collection was assembled by Dr William Conte, an American geneticist and a leading authority on Norman coinage. Dr Conte's aim was to create a representative reference collection of coins in the best possible condition, in order to illustrate the great variety of portraits and other designs, and the mints at which they were struck. He assembled the collection from various sources between 1975 and 2000. The 750 coins include many that are unique or great rarities. That the collection could be saved in this way for the nation is due to the very generous grants made by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Art Collections Fund.
March 14, 2026
Penny 1825 to 1901 - Price Guide and values
The penny was originally minted in silver, but from the late 18th century it was minted in copper, and, because of a survey in 1857 by the Royal Mint, the composition changed to bronze after 1860. The survey showed that around one third of all copper coinage was worn or mutilated, often by advertisements.
March 13, 2026
Queen Mother 1900-2002 5 Pounds
The reverse design features a portrait of the Queen Mother The reverse design features a portrait of The Queen Mother (Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon; 1900–2002, wife of King George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II) encircled by a wreath and with the circumscription QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER and the dates 1900-2002.
March 7, 2026
Historical melt values of British silver and gold coins added
This tool calculates British circulating coins precious metal values based on current silver and gold market prices.
March 7, 2026
5 Guineas 1716 to 1753 - Price Guide and values
The 5 Guinea was the largest regularly produced gold coin in Britain. George I's 5 Guinea coins were only struck in 1716, 1717, 1720, and 1726, and they bear his abbreviated Hanoverian titles in addition to the usual British, French, and Irish title. George II's 5 Guinea pieces mark the last of the denomination. Some of the 1729 coins bear the initials EIC under the king's head, indicating the gold was supplied by the East India Company, while the 1746 coins have LIMA under the head, indicating the gold was obtained during Admiral Anson's circumnavigation of the world.
February 25, 2026
Several pictures of pre-decimal coins added
Prior to decimalisation the pound was divided into 20 shillings, each of 12 (old) pence; thus, there were 240 (old) pence to the pound.
February 24, 2026
5 Pounds 1820 to 1953 - Price Guide and values
The five pound British gold coin, also known as a quintuple sovereign has been struck intermittently between 1820 and 1953. One of the rarest coins in Great Britain, and a coin much sought after by collectors, is the Una and the Lion five pounds.
February 21, 2026
From the archives: Copper Tokens of the Early 19th Century
As we all know, practically all early 19th century cooper tokens were produced in Birmingham, and the Bible for the series was Davis's seminal work 19th-Century Tokens. Initial thoughts were to produce a straight reprint of Davis, not intending to do any original writing, and to scan and process the text. There is, however, much wasted space in Davis, so the next thought was to incorporate a few corrections, and perhaps add a few more illustrations not in the original. This would have produced a book of some 90 pages, and with illustrations the number would be 120 pages. A straight reprint, it was estimated, would take three months and, with added illustrations, say six months.
February 19, 2026
Half Penny 1672 to 1701 - Price Guide and values
In the early years of the reign of King Charles II (1660-1685), there was a clear need for low-denomination coins to fund day-to-day purchases. The silver 1d and 2d coins issued in the first few years of the reign were being hoarded. The Mint was not ready to produce copper coins until 1672; by that time Maundy-type small silver (1d-4d) coins were being produced and were circulating widely, so no copper pennies were produced, although a Royal Proclamation in August 1672 decreed that halfpennies and farthings would be issued, and that they would have a face value equal to the value of the metal less the cost of producing them.
February 11, 2026
2 Pounds 1989 Bill of Rights and Claim of Rights
To celebrate the 300th anniversary (tercentenary) of the Bill of Rights and Claim of Rights, the Mint released commemorative 2 pounds coins in 1989 struck in nickel-brass and proof silver pedfort versions.
February 7, 2026
5 Pounds 1990 to 2017 - Price Guide and values added
Modern £5 crown are used since 1990 to commemorate special occasions of national importance, usually, but not exclusively, Royal in theme. These coins are intended as souvenirs rather than for everyday use, and are therefore rarely found in circulation.
February 6, 2026
Farthing 1902 to 1956 - Price Guide and values
Between 1860 and 1971, the farthing's purchasing power ranged between 12p and 0.2p in 2017 values. The farthing's reverse bore an image of Britannia until 1937, when a wren was introduced. It ceased to be legal tender in the United Kingdom on January 1, 1961.
