This coin formed part of the United Nations' FAO coin programme, and also commemorates the Berbice Slave Uprising, a slave revolt that began on 23 February 1763 and lasted into 1764, and was led by Cuffy, a slave of West African origin who is now regarded as a national hero.
The cupro-nickel 50p coin was introduced on October 14, 1969, and was equivalent in value to the ten-shilling note, which was withdrawn the following year. Described as an 'equilateral curve heptagon', it was the world's first seven-sided coin. The large-size Britannia reverse 50p was issued for circulation only in 1969-70, 1976-83 and 1985; commemoratives were struck in 1973, 1992 and 1994, and all other dates between 1971 and 1996 were NIFC. It was replaced by the current smaller coin in 1997.
Canadian nickel dollar, struck on a silver 50-cent planchet.
"Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search." -- J. Robert Oppenheimer
The decimal 5p and 10p coins were released into circulation in March 1968 to circulate alongside the one and two shilling coins, which were the same size.
Australia, Canada and New Zealand have all shown examples of their countries' wildlife on their coins, and the UK is no exception - here is the common crowned English lion, also known as the 'Lion Passant Gardant Regally Crowned'. Fortunately this fierce beast is not frequently encountered in the wild...
The release of the 5p and 10p coins coincided with a major campaign to prepare people for decimalisation, including posters, leaflets, TV commercials and this cheesy song by veteran crooner Max Bygraves:
1967 and the Sixties are in full swing, with hippies, flower power, long hair, psychedelic neckties and the Beatles singing "All You Need Is Love"...
The 1967 penny was the last of the big pre-decimal pennies struck for circulation and also had the highest mintage of any pre-decimal coin - a whopping 654 million!
All British copper and bronze pre-decimal pennies, from the first issue in 1797 up to the last (proof-only) in 1970 showed Britannia on the reverse.
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Posted 03/05/2015 10:22 pm
