Are Threepence Coins A Popular GB Series

I guess I should have said .. the silver ones.
There were some from Queen Victoria, mid 1800's through
the mid 1900's.

The silver threepence is a fun coin to collect. They range from the reign of King Edward VI (1547-1553) as hammered coins, right through to 1944 - but they are still being produced today for the Royal Maundy Ceremony!

You can make your own rules as your collection progresses. I suggest starting with the main circulation issues 1845 to 1944 (apart from a few years) and see how that goes. At the same time, watch out for 1834 to 1844 which were produced for colonial use. At this stage, I wouldn't recommend going further back than that. Forget that there might be "rare" ones or variations to start with - it's just not that sort of coin.

As you get further into the collection, you will find that the word "Maundy" crops up more often. The question then arises as to which years were produced just for the ceremony (generally to prooflike standard) and which years they were issued for circulation. Only from 1928 to 1944 were the circulation ones to a different design from the Maundy ones. It's a fascinating subject.

If you decide to go ahead and want any info in the future, just ask here and I'll try to give you some guidance. Initially, just get a few to get the feel of them - the cost should be reasonable and you should be able to get your first few as a "job lot". But beware, some have been pierced for use as jewellery so you don't want any of those.

Let us know what you decide, and good luck.

Bill.

I have 69 silver 3d's and quite a few spares. My oldest is 1860, the latest 1943.

It says up the top of the page that prices are in British pounds.

You should also be aware that the conditions on the website are for coins graded by the very strict British standard. To convert to US grade-equivalents, add one or two full grades.

To the best of my knowledge, the issues (from the 1816 recoinage) can be summarised thus:-

1816 to 1833 (none at all in 1816, 1819, 1821) are all Maundy only issues.
1834 to 1844 were issued for colonial use only, plus Maundy money every year (although legal tender in Britain).
1845 to 2011 Maundy issues every year (issued continuously from 1822 to 2011).
1845 to 1926 (except 1847, 1848, 1852, 1869, 1923, 1924) issued for circulation.
1927 to 1936 "Acorn" type for circulation, but 1927 as proof only and none in 1929.
1937 to 1944 "Shield" type for circulation, 1942 to 1944 for colonial use only.
1945 - some were struck but all supposed to have been melted down without being issued.

A couple of years might have more than one type - new monarch, etc.

All are "3" type, except the "Acorn" and "Shield" types. All Maundy ones are "3" type.

The "3" design, with slight detail alterations, has been in use from 1689 to today. All "3" type from the recoinage of 1816 are still legal tender, pre-decimal ones being redenominated as decimal pence on 15 February 1971 - i.e. their value was upped by 2.4 times overnight.

Bill.

Go to the link posted above by Bacchus2, take note of the GBP value in the approximate condition of each of your coins, convert the GBP value into US$.

I think that the majority of them would be above melt value, unless they are extremely worn.

Don't forget Sap's advice re UK grading v US grading.