UK 1981 Trial 20p

[<k>]

Here's a piece that a fellow member alerted me to a few years ago.

I had never heard of it before.

I still don't know anything about it.


It looks to be a genuine trial piece, though.

The obverse and reverse designs are very attractive too.

The actual UK 20 pence coin was released in 1982.

[UK Decimal +]

It is interesting that the broad border wasn't used in Britain, but it is used in Gibraltar.

A couple of coins from my pocket (yes, Gibraltar coins do circulate in England - many thanks to my favourite barmaid who noticed a coin that looked different).

Bill.

[<k>]

It is interesting that the broad border wasn't used in Britain, but it is used in Gibraltar.

I'd never noticed that. Some territories don't used the countersunk planchet at all - IOM being one of them. I know St Helena & Ascension DOES use it - off hand I couldn't say with regard to Jersey, Guernsey, Falkland Isles.

[UK Decimal +]

Re. the IoM, perhaps it has something to do with the company that produces their coins.

Bill.

[tickymicky]

I have one of these trial 20p pieces(tended in with a bus fare).I contacted The Royal Mint (Chris Barker), and AMR coins. I got a better reply from AMR coins who stated that one of these sold at auction in 2007 for £440.00 + commission making a total of around £560.00. They advised me to insure it for £700.00-£900.00.Needless to say, I have listed it on ebay for a starting price of £500.00. I have also included the emails that I received regarding the coin. If you want to view it, my username is mh140_5

[<k>]

Very nice. You're in a good place to harvest such rarities. 

[<k>]

I have just found some more information on an auction site. It lists the trial as being for a 25 pence coin. Given the late date, 1981, this seems implausible, since the actual 20 pence coin was first issued in 1982. Back in 1981, the coins in circulation were ½p, 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p and 50p.

In pre-decimal times, the highest coin was a half crown (two shillings and sixpence), which was equivalent to 12½p and did not translate into a neat decimal denomination. The crown was reserved for collector issues only, and the ten shilling note was replaced by the 50 pence coin. So there was a large gap between the 10p and the 50p, which need to be filled.

Most coinage systems that include a two unit, such a Britain with its 2 pence coin, also have a 20 unit. The USA, by contrast, uses a quarter (25 cents) and not a 20c coin, because it has no 2 cents coin these days. Therefore it follows that in considering a new coin to fill the gap between the 10p and the 50p, Britain would have opted for a 20p coin and not a 25p. My conclusion is that the auction house's description of this trial as being for a 25p coin is wrong.

The description from the auction house:

Trial 25 Pence, 1981, in cupro-nickel, crowned arms flanked by Tower and rose, experimental coin and date, rev. orb, royal mint trial, 5.73g/12h (cf. DNW 107, 618). As struck, extremely rare £600-800.

[Figleaf]

Not too fast. The problem was the gap between the 10p (former florin) and the 50p (former 10 shilling note). The logical denomination in pre-decimal times to fill that gap would have been the crown. Its equivalent is a 25p piece. You are of course right that it didn't circulate, but it was minted. I agree that once you let go of pre-decimal thought, 20p is the more logical denomination. I doubt that the double florin played a role in that decision

Peter

[Deeman]

An apparently unique 1981 trial 20 pence coin in nickel-brass.

It was sold at a Dix Noonan Webb auction held in April 2014.

Described by auction house as a 25 pence coin.