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Britain's First Decimal Coins - $5
345 Queen Street West #9 South East corner of Queen and Mclaughlin Pioneer
condition:
excellent
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$5
Britain's first decimal coins were introduced in preparation for Decimal Day on 15 February 1971, marking a shift from the traditional pounds, shillings, and pence system to a decimal currency. The set included five original coins: the halfpenny, 1p, 2p, 5p, and 10p, with three bronze coins and two cupro-nickel coins. The coins featured Arnold Machin’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and Christopher Ironside’s designs on the reverse3. They were presented in a blue plastic wallet with an accompanying description sheet explaining their significance. This transition was a major milestone in British numismatic history, simplifying transactions and aligning the UK with global currency standards.