Jersey: sketches of decimal coins without 'NEW' in the legend

[<k>]

If you read these two topics:

1] Jersey 10 pence 1977

2] 1977 Jersey 50p

- you will see that the Royal Mint was experimenting with trial Jersey coins, dated 1977, that omitted the word 'NEW' from the legend.

The alteration of the legend, with regard to the actual circulation coinage, did not take place until 1981. However, the topics above show that, somehow, some of those trial coins - probably only a few - escaped into circulation.

[<k>]

These sketches from old Royal Mint documents show that two different fonts were considered for the numerals representing the year.

Notice the figure '9' in particular.

[<k>]

Here is a similar sketch, this time from 1980. Ultimately, this particular rearrangement of the legend was not adopted.

[<k>]

And here is an image of the actual issued coin, as it appeared in circulation.

Jersey, 5 pence, 1981.  Proof version.

[<k>]

Here you see the older 5 pence, with NEW, for comparison.

[Alan71]

I don't like the version with the "5" on it, not surprised it was rejected.

What's going on with the teeth in the other two sketches?  They look silly not going all the way around.

[<k>]

What's going on with the teeth in the other two sketches?  They look silly not going all the way around.

Maybe the sketcher was being lazy. The semi-denticles were a reminder that the whole lot would be there, but the aim of the sketch was to concentrate on the more fundamental elements that could or would be changed. I agree that the issued version worked better than the version with the figure 5 at the top.

[Alan71]

Comparing the fonts of the numerals of the year on the issued coin and the earlier sketches, it looks like a third font was adopted?  The "9" on the 1981 coin doesn't look the same as it is in either of the drawings.

A fair amount of work went into this, including the issue of 1977 trial coins, and all for very little.  With such massive issues of 1980 "New Pence" coins, a mere (even for Jersey) 50,000 of each of the 1981 coins were issued.  The reverse was then abandoned in 1982 with the 20p hybrid, and then replaced for all denominations in 1983.  And all because of that troublesome "New" requiring law changes to remove it.

[<k>]

Comparing the fonts of the numerals of the year on the issued coin and the earlier sketches, it looks like a third font was adopted?  The "9" on the 1981 coin doesn't look the same as it is in either of the drawings.

Issued 5 pence coin.





Trial sketches. 



The adopted '9' looks more like the one in the left-hand sketch but slightly amended. It's usual to make minor amendments as you go through the process.

A fair amount of work went into this, including the issue of 1977 trial coins, and all for very little.

The work doesn't look excessive. Care needs to be taken with regard to circulation coins. Probably the increased sales of their coins to collectors over the years, after they ditched the boring coat-of-arms set, will have paid for much of the work.

[<k>]

The lions are looking to the left, which could be considered communist, so perhaps we have a better option here. 

[<k>]

Stepping back in time to 1977, you can examine the first options that were considered but rejected.

[<k>]

And the sketches.

[<k>]

The sketches, continued.

[<k>]

However, Jersey indicated that it would prefer a different method. That is the method that was ultimately adopted.