UK decimal coins: list of major events by year

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UK DECIMAL COINS: LIST OF MAJOR EVENTS BY YEAR.

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1968



The first decimal 5 pence and 10 pence coins were issued on 23 April 1968.

They were issued to begin familiarising the public with decimal coins.

They were equal in value to the 1 and 2 shillings coins respectively.


The new coins matched their predecimal counterparts in size, shape, weight and metal content.

They were the first UK circulation coins to carry Arnold Machin's portrait of the Queen.

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1969



The first decimal 50 pence coin was issued on 14 October 1969.

It replaced the 10 shilling note.


This was the world's first modern heptagonal coin.

A new version of Britannia was featured on the reverse.


The pre-decimal halfpenny was demonetised on 1 August 1969.

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1970

The half crown (2 shillings and 6 pence) was demonetised on 1 January 70.

The 10 shilling note was withdrawn on 20 November 1970.

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1971



Britain introduced a full decimal coinage on February 15 1971. 

The decimal half penny, 1 penny and 2 pence coins were released into circulation.


31 August 1971 marked the end of the changeover period to decimal currency. 

The pre-decimal penny and 3 pence coins then ceased to be legal tender.


The predecimal 6 pence, shilling and 2 shillings coins were retained.

They doubled as decimal 2½ pence, 5 pence and 10 pence coins.

They remained in circulation for many years.

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1972



The first decimal crown (25 pence) was issued.

It commemorated the Queen and Prince Philip's silver Wedding Anniversary.


However, it did not show its face value (denomination).

This was a collector coin only and did not circulate.

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1973



The first commemorative 50 pence coin was issued into circulation.

It commemorated the UK's entry into the European Economic Community (E.E.C.).

It was minted with a frozen date of 1973 through to April 1975.


The denomination was shown as "50 PENCE", omitting the word "NEW".

No regular circulation Britannia 50 pence coins were issued in 1973 and 1974.

See:  The "Illegal" 50p and the Death of "NEW PENCE".

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1980

The predecimal 6 pence coin was demonetised on 30 June 1980.

It had circulated as the equivalent of 2½ decimal pence.

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1981

The final 25 pence commemorative crown was issued.

It commemorated the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

The coin was for collectors only and did not circulate.

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1982



The words "NEW PENCE" and "NEW PENNY" were dropped from the coin legends.

They were replaced by simply "PENCE" and "PENNY"


Also, the first 20 pence coin was introduced into circulation on 9 June 1982.

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1983



The first UK decimal pound coin was introduced on 21 April 1983.

It changed its design annually through to 2008.


Also, the last circulation decimal half penny coin was minted, dated 1983.

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1984

The decimal half penny coin was demonetised on 31 December.

A 1984-dated version was minted for proof sets only.

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1985



Raphael Maklouf's new portrait of the Queen was adopted.

It now appeared on the UK's circulation coinage.

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1986



The first collector 2 pound coin was issued.

It commemorated the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. 


The coin was made of nickel-brass and not intended for circulation.

It replaced the uneconomical 25 pence coin as the standard commemorative collector coin.


The final issues of the nickel-brass collector 2 pound coin occurred in 1989.

It was superseded by the 5 pound coin in 1990 as the standard non-circulating collector coin.

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1990



The first 5 pound commemorative coin was issued.

It was crown-sized (38.61mm).

It celebrated the Queen Mother's 80th birthday.

A new smaller 5 pence coin was introduced on 6 June.

The larger-sized coins were demonetised on 31 December 1990.


The old predecimal shillings were also demonetised on that date.

A shilling was the equivalent of 5 decimal pence in value.