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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,037 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
I started noting the date of every penny I got in change three years ago. I was expecting to reach 1,000 by the end of this year, but my accident on December 7, when I fell down some steps and broke my ankle, has brought a stop to all change-checking until further notice!
So here's my survey of 985 UK pennies from circulation. I have never found a post-2020 penny in circulation. 200 of these coins were in bags from my bank and the remaining 785 from change.
1971 28
1973 2
1974 6
1975 3
1976 11
1977 6
1978 3
1979 9
1980 10
1981 3
1982 4
1983 7
1984 5
1985 1
1986 10
1987 11
1988 13
1989 18
1990 11
1991 7
1992 5
1993 17
1994 27
1995 11
1996 25
1997 13
1998 30
1999 44
2000 46
2001 39
2002 15
2003 29
2004 31
2005 20
2006 38
2007 22
2008 Portcullis 9
2008 shield 30
2009 37
2010 38
2011 35
2012 39
2013 16
2014 44
2015 Rank-Broadley 22
2015 Jody Clark 53
2016 25
2017 40
2020 9
Others
Jersey 1986 1
Jersey 1994 1
Jersey 1998 1
Guernsey 1971 1
Ireland 1p 1988 1
Canada 1 cent 1999 1
Spain 5 eurocents 1999 1
1 Farthing 1944 1
Bronze total (pre-1991): 172 (17.46%)
I just managed to get at least one of every collectable date from 1971-2020 from change. 1972, 2018 and 2019 are NIFC.
Strangely, until September I had gone through 2024 without finding a single 1971 penny, but they bounced back over the last three months with no fewer than six turning up! (Bear in mind that if I had checked through 985 pennies in 1972 every single one would have been dated 1971, other than perhaps the odd farthing or foreign invader).
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
375 Posts |
That sounds like fun apart from the broken ankle! Please excuse the awful and unintended pun but there's a twist to the 1p story. If you look through your magnifier at the portcullis on the reverse of the 1p you'll see a detail which depicts the medieval wrought iron rivet where the horizontal and vertical beams cross. Yes, you've guessed, there are two varieties of this detail and if I remember right some years have both. If your examples are worn identification may be difficult. Also, there are two distinct versions of lion on the 10p, and two types of thistle on the 5p. This is a rabbit hole I don't go down very often but I need an excuse to re-do my photos of these features so when I'm back home I shall have a good rummage and share what I find. Happy new year!
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Bedrock of the Community
 United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
Thanks Spyro - yes, I save coins with different versions of the portcullis rivets in my album but I haven't noted in this 'survey' how many of each type I've had, partly because, as you say, it can be hard to identify them when they're worn. Happy New Year to you too!  |
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
Very interesting! |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2180 Posts |
Nice, and well done with the farthing find.
Why nothing past 2020?
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
Quote:
Why nothing past 2020? According to The Royal Mint website, 56,000,000 pennies were minted in 2021, 30,000,000 in 2022 and 600,000 (Charles III effigy and Dormouse reverse) in 2023, but I've yet to hear of anyone who's found one in circulation. The 2020 1p has a mintage of 88,000,000 which was at the time the lowest for any 1p issued for circulation. COVID and the big switch to non-cash payments has definitely had an impact, and more places are rounding up prices to the nearest 5p or 10p, and even the Post Office now prices its 1st and 2nd class stamps in values that are multiples of 5p. They aren't used as much as they were four or five years ago. |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
375 Posts |
I've emerged from my rabbit-hole with a few pics. First off, an early decimal 1p...  Now, similar but with simple portcullis rivets..  and with an incuse ring round the rivets...  As if this wasn't enough, close ups of two early (large) 5p's with differences in the thistle and the crown. I think the die must have been recut in anticipation of the coin being shrunk...   And last but not least, two versions of the lion on the early 10p, which alternated at random between circulating, BU, and proof issues. Note the strong jawline in one version, and the fluffier mane in the other.   |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Quote:
I've emerged from my rabbit-hole with a few pics... Very nice! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1057 Posts |
Hope your ankle is mending back together okay, Rob! My wife broke one of hers a few years ago in an encounter with a garden hose, so we know it's not fun at all. Her comment on the hassle caused by such a tiny break: "Might as well have broken the whole leg!"
"If everything seems to be under control, you're just not going fast enough."
--- Mario Andretti
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
Great pictures, Spyro! I seem to recall that there's also a die variety on some early 10p's with a vertical line along the lion's nose? Quote:
Hope your ankle is mending back together okay, Rob! Much better than it was but I still have 5 days before my next hospital appointment and X-ray (when I hope I will be told I can start putting weight on it!) It can still be a bit painful at night. I'm doing regular calf muscle and toe exercises! |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
375 Posts |
Hadn't noticed that. I'll have a trawl...
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2180 Posts |
Odd that there would be no new coins in circulation for so long - I know cash is declining here in Australia too but most 2024 coins have been spotted in circulation.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,037 |
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Posted 12/30/2024 2:24 pm
