Do you have any unusual old or foreign coins? Why not check out your local library and get an idea what collecting is all about, even if it’s only to swap coins with your friends.
Until 1662 English coins were hand-made. A circle shaped blank was cut from a metal sheet and placed between two dies containing different patterns. It was then stuck with a hammer which caused the stamped or embossed design on to the blank. This practice changed after 1662 when horse and water powered screw-presses began to be used with the dies to emboss the design.
Modern coins are modelled in plaster on a large scale and the designs are then reduced to the eventual size of the coin. These designs are transferred in stages to the working dies (made of hardened steel) allowing high-speed electric presses to stamp out 200,000 coins before the die wears out.
Until the introduction of the Euro (the currency of the European Union), every country had different coins. Now the only difference is the face of the coin shows the country of issue. An exception in the European Union is Britain and Northern Ireland which retains it’s own currency. Since decimalisation in 1971 the British pound is divided into 100 pence, which had previously been made up of 240 pennies to the pound.
Although most coins are round, some have unusual shapes like the British 50 and 20 pence pieces which are heptagonal (seven-sided).
Up until the 20th century coins were usually made of old silver or copper, but these soft metals did not wear well. Alloys - a mixture of metals that is stronger than a single metal - have been increasingly used this century when coins no longer came to depend on the value of the metal they were made from.
Modern British silver coins are made from coiled sheets of cupro-nickel, an alloy containing copper and a smaller amount or nickel.
One pound coins re made from nickel-brass alloy. All these coins are worth more than the metals from which they are made.
Before 1992 copper coins were made of bronze, an alloy of copper, zinc and tin. Since 1992 the coins have been made of copper-plated steel. The steel is made from iron which is magnetic. We can prove this by passing a magnet over a selection of coins, the magnet will pick up the new coins.
All Silver coins, which include the threepenny piece: the sixpence , one shilling, two shilling and the half-crown made before 1946 have a silver content of 50% silver and any you have, may well be valuable.
Coins dating back to before 1920 are actually made up of 92%. silver.
Always check you dates carefully and don’t hesitate to approach a coin dealer if you have a query.
Do not attempt to clean an old or valuable coin. If a coin is dirty you can clean it gently with soap and water using an old toothbrush, then dry the coin with a clean piece of cotton wool.
Always hold coins by their edge or use plastic tipped tweezers. This is because sweat on your hands contains chemical that can tarnish or mark a coin.
Should you find your coins are of no collectible value you can still cash them in at the Royal Mint at Llantrisan in Mid-Glamorgan.
