Comments on "Milestones in the decimal coinage of Guernsey"

[<k>]

Parent topic:  Milestones in the decimal coinage of Guernsey


The parent topic (above) gives an overview of Guernsey's coinage since decimalisation. Please post any comments, questions or corrections here.

[<k>]

There are one or two facts I have left out of the parent topic, simply because I don't know them:

1] Was the Guernsey decimal halfpenny demonetised at the same time as the UK demonetised its own halfpenny?

2] Were the Guernsey large size 5p, 10p and 50p coins demonetised at the same time as the UK demonetised its own versions of these coins?

3] Does Guernsey issue a two pound banknote, or has it ever done? And does it still issue its own one pound notes? I have not been to Guernsey since 2001, and at that time I found that pound coins, whether from the UK, Jersey or Guernsey, did not circulate freely because the population preferred to use the banknotes.

[translateltd]

3] Does Guernsey issue a two pound banknote, or has it ever done? And does it still issue its own one pound notes? I have not been to Guernsey since 2001, and at that time I found that pound coins, whether from the UK, Jersey or Guernsey, did not circulate freely because the population preferred to use the banknotes.

No £2 note that I can see any record of, and the latest Banknote Yearbook (published by the COIN News people) lists the £1 note issue as "ongoing" since 1991, though the notes appear to be undated, which muddies the waters a little.

[Candy]

Since Guernsey is now following the UK in introducing nickel plated steel 5p coins , does anyone know if they are withdrawing their old cupro-nickel coins just they are here in the UK ?

[malj1]

I recently added the 2013 £1 note to my collection; it can be seen here Guernsey: New £1 Banknote Commemorates Thomas de La Rue

[Alan71]

The Guernsey coat of arms do appear on the Guernsey £2 coin.  They appear in the centre of the reverse design as the security feature.

There doesn't appear to be any evidence of cupro-nickel recovery in Guernsey.  As I stated in another thread, I have encountered more 1992-dated UK 10p coins (and also Guernsey ones with the same date) during my recent trip to the island than I have done at home for quite a while.  Also the 5p coins I received in change were all old ones.

[<k>]

In view of your comments, I have amended the wording of my relevant post. 

[eurocoin]

According to the Currency Manager at the treasury of Guernsey, Guernsey is not planning to mint new circulating coins until 2019-2021 as there is sufficient stock. There are also no immediate plans to introduce a new 1 pound coin. The circulation of Guernsey £1 coins remains low as the local community is still very much wedded to the £1 note. The introduction of the new effigy will be considered at the next time of minting, alongside any redesign.

[Alan71]

As with Jersey, they'll end up with the new £1 coins in circulation from the UK.  I have never actually seen a Guernsey £1 coin from circulation.  Each time I go to either island, there seems to be fewer local coins around (either that or they realise I'm a tourist and give me their UK change to get rid of some of it!)

[andyg]

As with Jersey, they'll end up with the new £1 coins in circulation from the UK.  I have never actually seen a Guernsey £1 coin from circulation.  Each time I go to either island, there seems to be fewer local coins around (either that or they realise I'm a tourist and give me their UK change to get rid of some of it!)

I was in Guernsey just after the new size 50p was introduced - way back in 1998, I asked at the ferry terminal if they had one they could swap (having not found one) - "oh sure" she said, had a rummage and found all bar two in the till were English, with the remaining two being from Jersey....

[Alan71]

Coincidentally I was also in Guernsey in 1998, at Easter.  I seem to recall that on the first day, on the bus to St Peter Port, I got three newly-issued 50p coins in change (presumably the bus driver had run out of £1 notes/coins).  As they were the first ones I'd seen, and were new in circulation, I saved all three of them and still have them today.  I also called in at the States Treasury and got a fourth, along with an example of the newest-issue of each denomination (£2 coins were yet to be issued at that point so I didn't get that one).

Sounds like you were just unlucky.

[Alan71]

Ok... Been reviewing your topic so far...

Not sure if worth mentioning that the original 10p cow design is the same as the old threepence design.  Similarly, the 5p re-used the old Four Doubles lily design.  Apart from Ireland, I think Guernsey is the only territory to re-use a pre-decimal coin design.

Although as you state, the 1979 1/2p and 50p are the first to remove the word "new", both of these were only issued as proofs in sealed sets for that year.  The only 1/2p coin to be issued for circulation was the 1971-dated coin.  The first circulation 50p coin without "new" was dated 1981.

[<k>]

I've acted upon all your comments now. The first circulation coins to remove the word "NEW" were in fact issued in 1977, but I take your point about the ½ pence and 50 pence proof coins. I do appreciate your comments, incidentally. Do you think the new layout is much of an improvement? Some of the previous versions of the Milestone topics came to look incredibly cramped and messy, IMO.

[<k>]

So the Guernsey topic is finished, at long last. These things can be rather time-consuming. I looked all over the internet for the ducal cap, which is supposedly shown on the first 50 pence coin, but I couldn't find one this side of Alpha Centauri. I'm sure that that Wagner fellow ("Garter" - College of Arms) just made it up for a laugh. 

[Alan71]

Yep, the layout looks good to me.

I have seen a ducal cap on the internet somewhere, but it was probably on Steven Gibbs' Guernsey coin website which no longer exists.  He was Guernsey-based so it was quite an informative website, but he developed some sort of debilitating illness and stopped maintaining the site.  For some years it remained static, with no updates, but disappeared altogether a few years ago.  Also seen it referred to as a Normandy cap, but again, nothing comes up on a search.

I'm not sure the Guernsey cost of arms will disappear entirely from their coins.  The Rank-Broadley portrait was so large that there wasn't much room for it.  Had they decided to adopt the Jody Clark one, they may have been able to have a larger coat of arms.