* These images show the type of coin you will receive, not the exact item
Collectable five-coin set featuring the first British decimal coins from 1971. It's been over half a century since the UK abandoned the 'Old Money' Pounds, Shillings and Pence system in favour of a new decimalised coinage system. In the run-up to Decimal Day on 15 February 1971, new decimal coins were introduced, including the 10p and 5p, plus a new 2p, Penny, and Halfpenny with designs by artist Christopher Ironside. These collectable sets, featuring the five new coins, were issued to the public during decimalisation and include real British currency coins that never entered circulation. Supplied in the original blue folder, these sets make a nostalgic gift for any coin collector or UK history buff.
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On 15 February 1971, the UK formally adopted a decimal coinage system, replacing Pounds, Shillings, and Pence forever. In the lead-up to Decimal Day, The Royal Mint struck billions of new coins from a new factory in Llantrisant, South Wales. To ensure decimalisation went off without a hitch, the UK's national mint led an information campaign to familiarise the public with the new currency.
This set includes five British decimal coins, dated 1971 or earlier, including:
The heads side of all the coins in these sets features an elegant and youthful bust of Queen Elizabeth II, wearing a tiara by British artist Arnold Machin. This popular portrait was used on the first decimal coins that were struck in 1968, through to 1984, when it was replaced with a slightly older image of Her Majesty.
The designs on the heads side of the five coins in this 1971 set will be instantly recognisable to Brits. The image of a crowned thistle on the 5p, the portcullis on the 1p and the Prince of Wales plumes on the 2p are all the work of Christopher Ironside and were used on UK coinage for decades.
This pre-owned historic coin set comes in a blue folder with the words 'BRITAIN'S FIRST DECIMAL COINS' on the front. The coins are presented in a fitted card holder and protected by a clear plastic sleeve but can be removed for viewing.
