What is the symbol for a British Penny?

Answer 1

A Sixpence is a denomination of the old predecimal British currency system and dates back to the time of Edward VI. The Sixpenny coin was also used by many other Commonwealth countries.

Originally, the British Sixpence was made from 92.5% silver, but from 1920 onwards, the silver content was reduced to 50% and from 1947 they was made from a copper/nickel alloy.

The Sixpence was 19 mm in diameter and had a milled edge. Since 1816, they have weighed variously between 2.81 and 3.01 grams.

A Sixpenny coin represented Six Pennies (6d), half a Shilling or, 1/40th of a Pound.

The Sixpence was often referred to as a "Tanner" or a "Half-Shilling".

At Britains conversion to decimal currency in February, 1971, the Sixpence had no new decimal equivalent coin, but was equal to 2.5 New Pence in the new currency.

Due to problems with coin operated machines, the Sixpence remained legal tender until the 30th of June, 1980.

The British Sixpence was last minted for general circulation in 1967.

From a coin collectors perspective, a Sixpence, depending on the year, condition and method of minting, could be worth anything from bullion value to several thousand pounds GBP.

Please note that since the Sixpence is part of a redundant or obsolete currency, it no longer has an "exchange rate" with other currencies.

Answer 2

A Penny coin is a denomination of the old predecimal British currency system and dates back to about 785 AD, and was the basis of the English currency for hundreds of years.

The Penny coin was also used by many other Commonwealth countries who based their new currencies on the British system.

As a hangover from their colonial past, the USA refers to their one cent coin as a Penny.

The name "Penny" comes from the Old English "Pennige" which shares the same linguistic root as the German "Pfennig".

The symbol for Penny is "d" (8d = Eight pence), which originates with the Roman "Denarius" and was used until decimalisation in 1971. "Pence" is the plural of "Penny, ie. One Penny, Two Pence.

Originally, the Penny was made from silver, then copper from the 1790's, and finally bronze from about 1860. The pre-decimal Penny was last minted in 1967.

Since 1816, the ubiquitous pre-1971 British Penny has varied from 30.81 to 34mm in diameter and weighed from 9.396 to 18.82 grams.

British Pennies dating back over 200 years have featured the iconic figure of a seated Britannia with a trident and shield. Other coins have also featured Britannia, but she seems to have been most comfortable on the Penny.

There were 12 Pennies in a Shilling and 240 Pennies in a Pound.

Britain produces a Maundy Set in most years, which consists of one each silver 1d, 2d, 3d and 4d coins. These coins are distinctive in appearance and should not be confused with any general circulation British Coins of the same denomination.

At Britain's conversion to decimal currency in February, 1971, the term Penny continued to be used for a completely different and much smaller coin. The old Penny had no new decimal equivalent coin, but was equal to 0.416 New Pence in the new currency. From 1971, there are 100 Pennies in a Pound. The decimal Pennies were made from bronze from 1971 to 1991 and then from copper plated steel from 1992 onwards.

The British decimal Penny, referred to as a "New Penny" from 1971 to 1981, and back to "Penny" from 1982 onwards, are rarely worth more than face value unless they are Proof FDC or part of a "Mint" or Proof" set.

From a coin collectors perspective, a predecimal (pre-1971) Penny coin, depending on the year, condition and method of minting, could be worth anything from a few Pence to several thousand pounds GBP.

Please note that since the predecimal (pre-1971) Penny is part of a redundant or obsolete currency, it no longer has an "exchange rate" with other currencies.

Answer 3

A 5 New Pence or 5 Pence coin is a British cupro-nickel coin first issued in 1968 and replacing the Shilling. It is the third lowest denomination in the British currency after the 1 Penny and 2 Pence coins.

The word "NEW" was dropped from 1982 onwards.

From 1990 onwards, the 5 Pence coins were redimensioned from 23.59 mm diameter to a smaller and subsequently cheaper to manufacture, 18 mm coin.

Answer 4

"New Pence" is the name given to British decimal coins from 1968 to 1981.

They were called "New Pence" to distinguish them from the earlier pre-decimal coins.

The word "New" was dropped from 1982 onwards.

Answer 5

The symbol for old British pennies (d) came from the Latin "denarius", which was a coin that occupied a roughly similar place in the Roman coinage system.