|
|
This page includes pictures of current and recent coins and notes. Pictures of current or very recent notes have been intentionally defaced and some show anti-copying patterning on the reverse. 1971-1975 1971-1975Decimalisation happened on 15th February 1971, when the existing ‘copper’
coins were replaced with new decimal denominations. The sixpence continued in
use, with a value of 2.5 new pence. The ten shilling note was replaced with a 50
new pence coin.
Click on the thumbnails below to view a pack issued to prepare people for Decimal Day, as well as the one pound and five pound notes in use.
1975-1980A ten pound note was issued in 1975.
1981The sixpence was eventually withdrawn in 1980 and the £50 note was issued in
1981
1982-1983In 1982 the word ‘new’ was dropped from penny coins and two new coins
were introduced – the 20 pence and the gold coloured one pound coins.
1984-1998The half penny finally fell victim to inflation in 1984 and was withdrawn.
Click on the thumbnails below to view a set of coins issued in 1986. The two pound coin is a commemorative issue and differs from later currency issue in not being bi-metallic. Below the coins are examples of the four notes also in use. Although it may not be obvious from these pictures, the higher the value of note, the larger the piece of paper it is printed on. This is to prevent forgers bleaching out low value notes to obtain paper on which to print higher value notes, as can happen when banknotes of different values are the same size.
1998-2000A new bi-metallic two pound coin was introduced in 1998, to give British
money at the end of the Millenium the form given in the table below.
The thumbnails below are for a coin set issued in 1999. Comparing this to the 1986 set will show that the 5p and 10p coins have been made smaller and lighter. The £2 and £5 coins are commemorative issues, although the £2 coin is of the current bi-metallic style. The £1 coin has the Scottish lion on it.
This final picture shows the bi-metallic two pound coin and four different designs of one pound coins. They are, clockwise from top right, a leek design, for Wales, a thistle design, for Scotland, the three lions of England and the Royal Coat of Arms.
|
| Last updated 02 February 2001
© C P Bignell 2000
|
