The UK and the Six: coin convergence and divergence

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The UK and the Six. What do I mean by "the Six" ? They are the three crown dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and the three overseas territories (Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, and Saint Helena and Ascension) that also use pounds and pence.

These seven coinages (the UK coinage and the other six) all have coins of the same denominations, with matching size, shape, weight and metal content. They all show a portrait of the UK monarch on the obverse. They are all exactly equal in value. The UK's coins and banknotes are accepted in all these six locations. Jersey and Guernsey accept each other's coins and notes, but none of the other dependencies and overseas territories do: Falklanders will not accept Gibraltarian money, and vice versa, etc.

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Guernsey, 8 doubles, 1949.  This coin was equivalent in value to a UK penny.

Back in the predecimal times of the 20th century, of the Six, only Jersey and Guernsey had their own coins, in addition to the UK. However, they each had only coins that were equivalent to the UK half penny, penny and 3 pence coins. Their names were somewhat different. Guernsey's equivalent to the half penny and penny were called 4 doubles and 8 doubles. Jersey's equivalent to the UK half penny, penny and 3 pence coins were called "one twenty fourth of a shilling", "one twelfth of a shilling" and "one fourth of a shilling".

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UK, 3 pence, 1966.




Guernsey, 3 pence, 1956.




Jersey, 3 pence, 1957.

Not only were the names of the coins somewhat different, but the metal content, shape and size of the 3 pence coins were different too.


See also:

British Empire & C/W: a parade of pre-decimal denominations.

Name variations on the coinage of the Crown Dependencies.

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You will have noticed one other difference.

From 1902 until 1937, only the UK was allowed to use an uncrowned effigy on the coinage.

The Dominions, nowadays known as Commonwealth realms, and the colonies, nowadays known as British overseas territories, were required to use the crowned effigy only.

However, Guernsey did not use a portrait of the monarch and used its shield of arms instead.


From 1937 onward the Dominions / Commonwealth realms were also allowed to use the uncrowned effigy.

However, the colonies and the crown dependencies were still required to use the crowned effigy.

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A UK 10 pence coin carrying the Arnold Machin effigy.

In 1963 Arnold Machin created a new effigy of the Queen. It was intended to be used on the UK's planned decimal coins. It was used from 1968 onwards. Meanwhile, other Commonwealth realms and territories learnt of this stylish new effigy and asked to use it. The Queen agreed that any Commonwealth realm or territory that wanted to use the new effigy should be allowed to do so. Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was the first to use the new effigy, in 1964. The hierarchy of the crowned / uncrowned effigy was now gone, though in practice it took some years before all the relevant coinages reflected this new development.

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Manx penny of 1971.



Guernsey penny of 1971.



Jersey penny of 1971.

From 1968 to 1971, the UK and the three crown dependencies each issued a first full set of decimal coins. These were the half penny, the 1 penny, and the 2, 5, 10 and 50 pence coins. The Isle of Man had also been given permission by the UK government to issue its first official coins of the 20th century.

The UK, Jersey and the Isle of Man all now used the Machin effigy.

However, Guernsey continued to use its shield of arms.

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Falkland Islands, half penny, 1980.

The Falkland Islands gained its own coinage in 1974, though a 50 pence coin was not added until 1980.

It also used the Machin effigy.

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NEW pence or not?



When the UK went decimal, the legend on its coins included the word "NEW".

This indicated that these were decimal pence, and not the old predecimal pence. 

The word "NEW" appeared on the UK's decimal coins from 1968 to 1981 inclusive.

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



The word "NEW" appeared on the Isle of Man's decimal coins from 1971 to 1975 inclusive.



The word "NEW" appeared on Guernsey's decimal coins from 1968 to 1976.

Guernsey dropped the word "NEW" from its coins in 1977.

However, its only coins with "NEW" were dated 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971. 

No coins dated 1972 to 1976 inclusive were struck in any form.



The word "NEW" appeared on Jersey's decimal coins from 1968 to 1980 inclusive.

So, of those who used the word "NEW" in the coin legends, the Isle of Man dropped it in 1976; Guernsey in 1977; Jersey in 1981; and the UK in 1982. Usually the UK takes the lead in making changes to the standard coinage, but in this case the UK was the last to adopt the change.

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UK 20 pence coin, with a wide rim.




Falkland 20 pence coin, with a normal rim.

In 1982 the UK issued a new denomination: the 20 pence coin. This plugged the gap between the 10 pence and 50 pence coins. At this point the old 10 pence was still quite large and heavy, so the small and light 20 pence coin helped to reduce the overall weight of the coinage in circulation.

The UK 20 pence coin was given an especially wide rim. This was intended to help blind persons distinguish the new coin from other coins. In fact, a blind person has told me that this feature makes no difference, since blind people feel the edge of a coin, rather than the rim, to help identify it.

At this point in time, the UK was the only one of the sterling area to use such a wide rim on the 20 pence coin. The other territories used a normal size rim.

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The UK issued a new denomination in 1983: a small chunky 1 pound coin.

Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man also issued similar versions that same year.


Guernsey had trialled a very slightly smaller version in 1981 but had not retained that version.

Curiously, the Falkland Islands did not issue a 1 pound coin until 1987.

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Saint Helena and Ascension issued their first joint coinage in 1984.

Curiously, they did not add a 20 pence coin until 1998.

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Guernsey, 1 pound, 1983: obverse.




Guernsey, 1 pound, 1988.

In 1985 the UK adopted a new portrait of the Queen.

It was designed by Raphael Maklouf.

It is shown above on the 1988 Guernsey 1 pound coin.

In fact, Guernsey adopted the portrait for its circulation coins in 1985.

It replaced the shield of arms on its coins.

So here on Guernsey's coins we saw more convergence.

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Falkland Islands, 1 pound obverse, 1987 to 2000.

The Falkland Islands diverged here, because it kept the Machin effigy until 2003/4.

It used the Maklouf effigy on its 1 pound coin alone, from 1987 to 2000.

The Falkland 1 pound coin was not issued until 1987.

All the other denominations continued to use the Machin effigy until 2003/4.

Here again it diverged from the norm.

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In 1985 the Isle of Man also introduced a new portrait of the Queen.

It was the work of Raphael Maklouf, produced by the Pobjoy Mint.

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Gibraltar issued its first modern circulation coinage series in 1988.

Gibraltar's was the final sterling area territorial coinage to be issued.

It used the new Maklouf portrait.