Old Pennies Of Great Britain

Any small decimal pennies dated from 1971 onwards are still legal tender in the UK.

The big bronze pennies issued from 1860-1967, if they are in average circulated condition (ranging from Poor-Fair for Victorian coins to EF-AU for Elizabeth II ones) are mostly worth copper scrap value only, and many local coin shops in the UK have huge boxes full of them priced at 10 pence per coin or even less. They are however popular with lots of collectors and you may well be able to sell them in mixed lots of eBay. Of course, Victorian pennies in Fine or better condition, scarce dates like 1950 and 1951 and the 1918 and 1919 H and KN coins would be worth selling individually and might interest a dealer.

I find old pennies make great conversation pieces - I often carry a few around and hand them out as souvenirs of England when travelling abroad. I would never trash them!

Agree with all the above, but pennies make a wonderful collection and they are fun coins.

The history value is priceless, these coins circulated around the British empire as well as the UK and if coins could talk the stories they could tell. They are also one of the realest coins around as everyone from all social classes had them. These are contrasted to gold sovereigns and even my beloved Halfcrowns and Florins. Coins that were social history and 90% of them can be bought cheap.

Average conditions of the eras.

Victorian bun pennies 1860 - 1894, Poor (Date only) to VG, Fine/VF a bit better, EF or more are scarce.

Later Victorian Pennies - Widow head 1895 - 1901 - Good to Fine is usual EF or better is great

King Edward VII and King George V to 1922 - Average condition VG to Fine+, VF usually cheap most dates too. EF and better are scarce but not impossible

King George V 1926 - 1936, average condition of these coins with the higher rims (Except 1926 a less common year and often found more worn) is Fine + and 1930s coins are usually VF with most 1936 coins approaching EF. UNC coins fairly easy and lustre. F - VG exist as the coins were worth a bit less buying power by now and still got heavy use.

King George VI 1937 - 1949 - At least VF or better is collectible, EF is also a collectible and nice, UNC not unknown, again worn Fine coins exist

QE 2 1961 - 1967, Anything less than full lustre unirculated is common, although the very worst you see are gVF/aEF and many EF.

Dates are not complete as Pennies were not minted in 1923/25 and 1953/60. 1950 and 1951 pennies went to the West Indies and are scarce, 1953 were set only.

1933 is a very rare year and coins are worth thousands, fakes exist.

Halfpennies were minted through the 50s and are not rare for any dates.