British pre-decimal coins
These are Britain's pre-decimal coins which could be used in the twentieth century. Some are still legal tender today, although I doubt they would turn up in anyone's loose change.
| Coin | Monach/Year first minted | Materials | Year demonitorised | Oldest legal tender issue when withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farthing (¼d) | Edward I (1272-1307)(*) | Silver, copper, bronze (from 1860) | 1 January 1961 | 1860 |
| Halfpenny (½d) | Edward I (1272-1307)(*) | Silver, copper, bronze (from 1860) | 1 August 1969 | 1860 |
| Penny (1d) | Offa of Mercia c760 | Silver, copper, bronze (from 1860) | 1 September 1971 | 1860 |
| Threepence (3d) | Edward VI 1551 | Silver, brass (from 1937) | Brass - 1 September 1971; silver still legal tender value (3p) (**) | 1834 (silver) 1937(brass) |
| Groat (4d) | Edward I (1272-1307) | Silver | Still legal tender value 4p, but not in regular circulation in the twentieth century(**) | 1836 |
| Sixpence (6d) | Edward VI 1551 | Silver, cupronickel | 1 July 1980 | 1816 |
| Shilling (12d) | Henry VII 1489 | Silver, cupronickel | 1 January 1990 | 1816 |
| Two shillings (florin) (2s) | Victoria 1849 | Silver, cupronickel | 1 July 1993 | 1849 |
| Halfcrown (2s 6d) | Henry VIII 1526 (gold), Edward VI 1551 (silver) | Gold, silver, cupronickel | 1 January 1970 | 1816 |
| Double florin (4s) | Victoria 1887 | Silver, cupronickel | Still legal tender, but not in regular circulation | 1887 |
| Crown (5s or 25p) | Henry VIII 1526 (gold), Edward VI 1551 (silver) | Silver, cupronickel | Still legal tender, but only used for commemorative issues | 1818 |
| Half sovereign | Henry VIII 1544 | Gold | Still legal tender, but rarely used after 1914 | 1838 |
| Sovereign | Henry VII 1489 | Gold | Still legal tender, but rarely used after 1914 | 1838 |
(*) Earlier examples have been found, but it is believed that this were trial or experimental issues. The first successful farthing and halfpenny issues were in the reign of Edward I.
(**) Groats and silver threepence coins are still legal tender and were re-valued upwards as they are indistinguishable from Maundy coins of the same value. So a groat worth 4d increased in value to 4p in 1971.
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