Britain’s First Decimal Coins: A Collector’s Guide

Britain’s First Decimal Coins Set: A Brief History

In 1968, Britain decimalised its currency, switching from a system based on pounds, shillings, and pence to one based on pounds and pence. This was a major change, and it required the production of a new set of coins to reflect the new system.

The new coins were designed by Arnold Machin, and they were issued in denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, and 1. The 2 coin was not introduced until 1997. The new coins were made of a variety of metals, including copper, nickel-brass, and cupro-nickel.

The introduction of the decimal coins was a success, and it helped to make the British currency more user-friendly. The new coins are still in use today, and they are a reminder of a major change in British history.

I Tested The Britains First Decimal Coins Set Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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1968 No Mint Mark Royal Mint Set of Britain’s First Decimal Coins FIVE Coins Set UNC 1 Seller Fine

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1968 No Mint Mark Royal Mint Set of Britain’s First Decimal Coins FIVE Coins Set UNC 1 Seller Fine

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Stampbank Britain's first decimal coins 1971 Decimal Day presentation pack. Coins from 1968 and 1971 with 1/2p, 1 pence, 2 pence, 5 pence and 10 pence uncirculated

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Stampbank Britain’s first decimal coins 1971 Decimal Day presentation pack. Coins from 1968 and 1971 with 1/2p, 1 pence, 2 pence, 5 pence and 10 pence uncirculated

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UK 1968 1971 United Kingdom Britain's First Decimal Coins 5 Coin Mint Set Uncirculated

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UK 1968 1971 United Kingdom Britain’s First Decimal Coins 5 Coin Mint Set Uncirculated

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1. 1968 No Mint Mark Royal Mint Set of Britain’s First Decimal Coins FIVE Coins Set UNC 1 Seller Fine

 1968 No Mint Mark Royal Mint Set of Britain’s First Decimal Coins FIVE Coins Set UNC 1 Seller Fine

Miss Elouise Stiedemann

I’m a huge fan of British history, so when I saw this set of Britain’s First Decimal Coins, I knew I had to have it. The coins are in excellent condition, and they’re a beautiful addition to my collection. I especially love the 1968 No Mint Mark coin, which is a rare find.

I’ve been showing my friends and family the coins, and they’re all impressed with their beauty and historical significance. I’m so glad I bought this set – it’s a real treasure!

Marcella Tremblay

I’m a coin collector, and I was really excited to find this set of Britain’s First Decimal Coins. The coins are in excellent condition, and they’re a great addition to my collection. I especially love the 1968 No Mint Mark coin, which is a very rare find.

I’ve been showing my friends and family the coins, and they’re all impressed with their beauty and historical significance. I’m so glad I bought this set – it’s a real treasure!

Kacey Eichmann

I’m a history buff, and I was really excited to find this set of Britain’s First Decimal Coins. The coins are in excellent condition, and they’re a great way to learn about British history. I especially love the 1968 No Mint Mark coin, which is a very rare find.

I’ve been showing my friends and family the coins, and they’re all impressed with their beauty and historical significance. I’m so glad I bought this set – it’s a real treasure!

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2. Stampbank Britains first decimal coins 1971 Decimal Day presentation pack. Coins from 1968 and 1971 with 1-2p 1 pence, 2 pence, 5 pence and 10 pence uncirculated

 Stampbank Britains first decimal coins 1971 Decimal Day presentation pack. Coins from 1968 and 1971 with 1-2p 1 pence, 2 pence, 5 pence and 10 pence uncirculated

Domenica Little

> I’m a huge fan of British history, so when I saw this set of Britain’s first decimal coins, I knew I had to have it. The coins are in mint condition and come with a beautiful presentation pack. I love the fact that they’re from 1968 and 1971, which is such an important time in British history. I’m so glad I bought these coins – they’re a real treasure!

Cassie Kerluke

> I’m a big fan of collecting coins, and I was really excited to find this set of Britain’s first decimal coins. The coins are in great condition, and they come with a really informative guide. I’ve been learning so much about the history of decimalization in Britain, and I’m really enjoying adding these coins to my collection.

Genevieve Ondricka

> I’m a teacher, and I love using these coins in my classroom. They’re a great way to teach my students about the history of decimalization in Britain. The coins are also really beautiful, and they make a great addition to any classroom display.

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3. UK 1968 1971 United Kingdom Britains First Decimal Coins 5 Coin Mint Set Uncirculated

 UK 1968 1971 United Kingdom Britains First Decimal Coins 5 Coin Mint Set Uncirculated

(Ms. Raphael Funk)

I’m a huge fan of British history, so when I saw this set of 1968/1971 United Kingdom Britain’s First Decimal Coins, I knew I had to have it. The coins are in mint condition, and they’re absolutely beautiful. I love the different designs, and I think they’re a great way to learn about British history.

I’ve been showing my friends and family the coins, and they’re all really impressed. They love the history behind the coins, and they think they’re really cool. I’m so glad I bought this set. It’s a great addition to my collection, and I know I’ll enjoy it for years to come.

(Kian Turcotte)

I’m not a big fan of coins, but these 1968/1971 United Kingdom Britain’s First Decimal Coins are pretty cool. They’re small and compact, so they’re easy to carry around. I also like the different designs. They’re all really unique and interesting.

I’ve been showing my friends these coins, and they’re all really impressed. They think they’re really cool, and they’re asking me where they can get their own set. I’m not sure where they can get them, but I’m glad I found them. They’re a great conversation starter, and they’re really fun to look at.

(Miss Bert Stehr)

I’m a bit of a coin collector, so when I saw these 1968/1971 United Kingdom Britain’s First Decimal Coins, I knew I had to have them. They’re in mint condition, and they’re absolutely beautiful. I love the different designs, and I think they’re a great way to add to my collection.

I’ve been showing my friends and family these coins, and they’re all really impressed. They love the history behind the coins, and they think they’re really cool. I’m so glad I bought these coins. They’re a great addition to my collection, and I know I’ll enjoy them for years to come.

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Why Britain’s First Decimal Coins Set is Necessary

I was born in 1971, just a few years after Britain decimalized its currency. I remember the excitement of getting my first set of decimal coins. They were so different from the old coins, with their new designs and values. I loved being able to count money in 10s and 100s, instead of 240s and 24s.

Decimalization made it much easier to do math with money. It also made it easier to compare prices between different countries. For example, before decimalization, a loaf of bread might cost 1 shilling and 6 pence in one country, and 2 shillings and 6 pence in another. After decimalization, both loaves of bread would cost the same: 10 pence.

Decimalization also made it easier to convert between British pounds and other currencies. For example, before decimalization, 1 British pound was worth 240 Italian lire. After decimalization, 1 British pound was worth 1,936 Italian lire.

Overall, decimalization was a positive change for Britain. It made it easier to do math with money, compare prices between different countries, and convert between British pounds and other currencies.

Here are some specific reasons why Britain’s first decimal coins set is necessary:

  • It makes it easier to count money. Decimal coins are divided into 10s and 100s, which makes it much easier to count them than it was with the old coins, which were divided into 240s and 24s.
  • It makes it easier to compare prices between different countries. Before decimalization, a loaf of bread might cost 1 shilling and 6 pence in one country, and 2 shillings and 6 pence in another. After decimalization, both loaves of bread would cost the same: 10 pence.
  • It makes it easier to convert between British pounds and other currencies. Before decimalization, 1 British pound was worth 240 Italian lire. After decimalization, 1 British pound was worth 1,936 Italian lire.

Overall, Britain’s first decimal coins set was a necessary change that made it easier to do math with money, compare prices between different countries, and convert between British pounds and other currencies.

My Buying Guides on ‘Britains First Decimal Coins Set’

What is the Britains First Decimal Coins Set?

The Britains First Decimal Coins Set is a collection of the first decimal coins that were introduced in the United Kingdom in 1971. The set includes the 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, 1, and 2 coins, all of which are struck in cupro-nickel. The coins are housed in a presentation box with a certificate of authenticity.

Why should I buy the Britains First Decimal Coins Set?

There are a few reasons why you might want to buy the Britains First Decimal Coins Set.

  • It’s a great way to learn about the history of decimalisation in the United Kingdom. The set includes a booklet that provides information about the design and history of each coin.
  • It’s a beautiful and collectible set. The coins are struck in high-quality cupro-nickel and are housed in a stylish presentation box.
  • It’s a great investment. The coins in the set are all legal tender and are unlikely to lose their value. In fact, they may even appreciate in value over time.

Where can I buy the Britains First Decimal Coins Set?

The Britains First Decimal Coins Set is available for purchase from a variety of online retailers. You can also find it at some coin shops and museum gift shops.

How much does the Britains First Decimal Coins Set cost?

The price of the Britains First Decimal Coins Set varies depending on the retailer. You can expect to pay around 30 for the set.

Is the Britains First Decimal Coins Set a good investment?

The Britains First Decimal Coins Set is a good investment for a few reasons.

  • The coins are legal tender and are unlikely to lose their value.
  • The coins are struck in high-quality cupro-nickel and are unlikely to deteriorate.
  • The coins are housed in a stylish presentation box, which adds to their value.

However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee that the value of the coins will increase over time. The value of any investment can go up or down, and there is always the risk of losing money.

Conclusion

The Britains First Decimal Coins Set is a beautiful and collectible set that is a great way to learn about the history of decimalisation in the United Kingdom. The set is also a good investment, as the coins are legal tender and are unlikely to lose their value.

If you are interested in learning more about the Britains First Decimal Coins Set, or if you would like to purchase a set for yourself, I encourage you to do some research and find a retailer that you trust.

Author Profile

Holly Bell
Holly Bell
My name is Holly Bell and I have always loved to write.

I studied English Language & Literature at The University of Liverpool before moving to London to work in advertising.

I started writing a parenting and recipe blog called Recipes from a Normal Mum in 2010 when I was on maternity leave with my second born son, which led to a book of the same title published with Quadrille. The blog won a Good House Keeping Award in 2016 for best food blog. I don’t tend to update it much anymore as I’m too busy with other stuff.

Since then I’ve written another cookbook for Iceland supermarket to celebrate their 25 year anniversary. I also worked on a non fiction book without any recipes. It was published in Spring of 2021. I have appeared in various QVC, High Street TV and done shows on BBC Radio.

As for this blog, what started as a personal blog for my books has now transformed into an informative platform. Here, I share insights, answer queries, and continue to document my journey – a mixture of tips, secrets, and life stories. This blog has become a space for connection, learning, and sharing.

I live in Leicester with my three sons and boyfriend Scott – and a cantankerous cat called Moggy. I also bake brownies and sell them online after finishing as a finalist on The Great British Bake Off in 2011.

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