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 Replies: 17 / Views: 4,479 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
My question is rather simple: Do the large 50 pence coins actually circulate in the UK or are they more like US half dollars in that they are minted each year but no one really spends them?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
Not quite sure what you mean by large 50p coins? Do you mean those minted prior to 1997, or are you generally calling 50p coins large? The current 50p coin is 27.3mm in diameter (Albeit a heptagon)which is only about 1mm larger than a Presidential dollar. Our £2 coin which also circulates freely is 28.4mm in diameter. The larger 50p coins prior to 1997 no longer circulate as they have been replaced by the smaller variety. They did circulate freely prior to the new ones being introduced. Those minted since 1997, including the commemorative ones circulate freely now. All British coins of denomination smaller than £5 are in general circulation. Currently that includes 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. I think it seems to be more of an American thing to have coins like the half and one dollar that are not really used regularly. I was reading a similar thread earlier today about Australian coins. It seems they use all of their denominations also. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3499 Posts |
QuickSilver- ah good to know. Thanks for the info. But are the larger 50p coins from the 1970s still accepted? The reason why I ask is that I have a ton of those and will be heading to England in the near future.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2889 Posts |
Not in shops, no. I'm not sure what the story is with banks and exchanging them there. I suspect that unless you are putting them into your account, their exchange rates would mean it wasn't worth the bother
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Also Archraz, if you have the larger 10p, you can use it in Australia for 20c!
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Moderator
 Australia
16850 Posts |
Quote:
...you can use it in Australia for 20c! Well, no, not legally... but it does fit into vending machines and is treated by them as a 20¢ coin, because they have the same speifications; both the British 10p and Australian 20¢ (as well as the New Zealand and Fiji 20¢) are derived from the British florin. Australia is now the last country to continue to use the old size and composition. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
You could consider trying to sell your large style 50 pence coins on CCF. They are still worth 50 pence in England but you might encounter someone who has not seen the large style and have a bit of hassle. Think of it like trying to pay with an Ike dollar in the US to a person who has never seen one. They probably will not work in vending machines either. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2889 Posts |
Apparently the large size coins were demonetized with effect from 28th February 1998 - so shops are not obliged to accept them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Thanks for the info everyone! I must admit that I'm a bit surprised that any British decimal coinage has been demonetized. Since these coins are not any good to me here, do you think that I should take them with me and hope that some shops accept them anyway?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
I just called my bank and they have informed me that they no longer accept them.
Usually old coins are accepted for longer at banks than in shops, but still only for a limited time after demonetisation.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
Well based on what QuickSilver said, it sounds like you would be best off trying to sell them here.
About how many do have?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
I have a few of them, but not all the dates; I wouldn't mind filling in the ones I don't have (hint, hint).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
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Well, no, not legally... But hey hey, what does Google say?  1 British pound = 1.98304416 Australian dollars I think the AUD still sorta tracks the GBP in the short term (Post 1997, and from about 2007-now) but why is the New Zealand economy not as robust as the Aussie economy? Not as much natural resources? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
kena- well of the handful that I have, only 4 are the large type. I believe that two are 1978 and the others are 1979. Certainly not the rarest of coins, but they are in EF-AU at least.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
If the rest are the smaller, post 1997, then you can spend those here.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2541 Posts |
I received a very nice 50p proof of the 4 minute mile anniversary as a gift last year.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 4,479 |
Posted 05/07/2009 5:57 pm
