('Coins of the UK')
by Tony Clayton
The New Zealand threepence obverse. Features the United Kingdom monarch. The reverse design shows two crossed patu (carved Maori weapons) with thong wrist. The words 'NEW ZEALAND 3d' are. Above the main design, with the date below. 3 pennies = 1 threepence = 1/4 of a shilling = 1/80 of a pound. What is a threepence from the United Kingdom worth? Values, images, and specifications for threepence coins from the UK, Great Britain, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, dependancies, and British colonies from 1801 to 1967. The threepence was not a popular denomination. The obligation to pay threepence a week towards her maid's ' stamp ' was, she said, tyranny. Times, Sunday Times (2009) With the princely sum of threepence at stake, no lemonade bottle ever found its.
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Values of Three Pence Coins
Pictures of Three Pence Coins
Silver Threepence
First introduced during the reign of Edward VI in 1551, andthen re-introduced during the reign of Elizabeth I, when manyodd denominations were minted. Indeed, this denomination is characterised by its intermittent nature during the 16th and17th centuries.
During the reign of Charles I the value was indicated by a III behind the King's head.
On the restoration of Charles II an undated threepence was issued, butin 1670 a regular series of dated coins commenced, with a number of gapsuntil 1800. Prior to 1800 these coins were generally 1.5g and 17mm diameter.An example of a William & Mary 3dshows the general style used until 1927.
Thrupence
After the Great Recoinage of 1817 the threepence was primarily producedfor the Maundy Ceremony, although issues for Colonial use were made.It was not until 1845 that the threepence was struck for general circulationin the UK. From 1817 until 1945 the silver threepence weighed 1.4g and had a diameter of 16mm.
The 1822 issue of George IV used the twopence punch for the effigy, and consequentlythe King's portrait is smaller than that for later issues. According to a footnote in H.A.Seaby's 'English Silver Coinage from 1649' (1957), the first punch broke, and as there was not time to make another, that for the twopence was used.
King George VI United Kingdom threepence values. What is a KG VI three pence worth? Values, images, and specifications for KG VI 3 pence coins from the UK, Britain, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. The Threepence saw more frequent circulation from 1638, during the reign of Charles I. Threepence coins were minted in Aberystwyth, Bristol, Exeter and Oxford. Issues from Bristol and Exeter in particular are quite rare. From this period on, the Threepence saw regular mintages, before finally being discontinued and demonetised in August 1971.
Three interesting errors of legend occur during the Victorian era. Thecoin is small and the legend very fine, so it is understandable ifthe wrong punch was used for the similar letters B and R. Thetwo errors are 1858 BRITANNIAB instead of BRITANNIAR, and 1868 RRITANNIAR instead of BRITANNIAR. These two coins are well worthlooking out for as they command a substantial premium.
In addition, one die used in 1851 had a 5 punched instead of an 8, making it read 1551. An unusualway to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the first 3d!
During 1887 both the obverse and reverse were changed. The headof the Queen changed from the Young Head to the so-called JubileeHead, and the crown above the figure three was modified. The Young Head version is illustrated. Nomules of the two types are known.
In 1893 the obverse was changed to the Veiled Head type, and boththe old and new versions exist for that date. The 1893 Jubilee Head 3d is a scarce coin.
Until 1927 the Maundy and currency versions of the coin are more orless identical - the depth of striking being the best clue - but inthat year the currency coin was redesigned from the crowned 3 to a new design with three oak sprigsand acorns, while the design of the Maundy version remained unchanged.
Two changes took place in 1937. The design of the silver threepencewas changed to show a shield bearing theCross of St.George centered on a Tudor Rose, although the Maundy version remained as a crowned three.
In addition, a new and larger nickel-brass threepenny coin was introduced. This has a design showing a thrift plant,a clever pun on words at a time when saving was being encouraged. Trial pieceshad a slightly different design and the portrait of Edward VIII, and some of these found their way into circulation unofficially.
Although the silver threepence continued to circulate for some years (I recallreceiving one in change in about 1959), and particularlyin Scotland and the West Indies, it was last produced for circulation in the UK in 1941. Issues were made for the next threeyears for use in the West Indies, and are all relatively scarce,particularly the 1944 coin. Nearly 400,000 were minted in 1945, but theywere ordered to be melted down. Only two are known to have survived, the second being discovered recently and reported in the February 2020 edition of Coin News.
On decimalisation in 1971 silver 3d coins of the Maundy design were revalued at three new pence.
Nickel-Brass Threepence
Edward VIII
Threepence Meaning
In England, and in London in particular, the small size of the silver threepencewas unpopular. Three pennies were heavy and cumbersome, so it was decided to introducea larger nickel-brass version of the three pence coin.
Trial pieces of various thicknesses were minted with a portrait of Edward VIII and a reverse design of a thrift plant by Frances Madge Kitchener. Some of these were not returned and found their way into circulation. One recently put up for auction by Dix Noonan Webb is illustrated. These trial pieces come in threethicknesses: 1.75mm; 2.0mm; 2.5mm.
As some of the thinner patterns could activate existing relatively primitive slotmachines instead of a sixpence or shilling, the thickest dimension was eventually decided upon.
The threepence coins from the official sets of Edward VIII coinage that were prepared (but not issued), and a few of which survive, have a modified reverse with the same design as that used by George VI.
George VI
In 1937 a new brass threepence was introduced using an alloy of 79% copper,20% zinc and 1% nickel. It was 12 sided to make it more distinguishable to the touch,and weighed 6.8g. It measures 21mm across between the flat edges, almost exactly the same aslater used for the Canadian 5c. A1943 specimen is illustrated.
The 12-sided design and thickness made the coin easy to identify, andit became very popular - the silver threepence being considered toosmall, a lesson not learnt when it came to introducing the present small fivepence piece.
At first the coins had sharp corners, but during 1941 a more rounded collar was used,as failure of the collars was occuring too frequently. In 1948, and from 1950, sharp edgedcollars were used again. Both types are known for 1949.
No threepence coins were minted in 1947, and the mintages of 1946 and 1949 areparticularly low; back in the 1960's I never found either in circulation. I amparticularly grateful to Martin Platt for the image of an uncirculated 1949 threepence.Sadly my own specimen is only Fine!
From 1949 the obverse legend was modified to remove the IND IMP.
Elizabeth II
They were struck each year in the present reign until 1967 (and onesstruck later had the latter date). The design shows a portcullis, a badge of Government. A final proof version dated 1970 was issued as part of the last Lsd set.
The coins of 1953 issued in the 'plastic sets' differ slightly from those issued later in the year for general circulation, and from the proof set coin. The following year, 1954, the obverse legend was changedand the portrait strengthened.
The 1958 and 1966 coins are known struck in cupronickel. That dated 1961is known struck on Hong Kong 10c blanks in error. A proof 1958 3d made for presentationto a VIP and in a recent Spink sale is illustrated.
Nickel-brass three pence coins were demonetised on 31st August 1971.
Acknowledgements
See my Main Coins Index page for acknowledgements
Links
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Main History Index.
Values of Threepence
Values Index
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Coins of the UK - Three Pence
Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v38 14th February 2020