Description
The design of our predecimal coins evoke strong memories for many of us. There is the Penny which shows Britannia proudly seated before the waves which she ruled. The twelve-sided brass threepence, Britain’s first coin with an irregular shape, was a relative newcomer to the predecimal coins only appearing some thirty three years earlier.
And how many people remember that there were two different shilling designs – one for England and one for Scotland? The Queen Elizabeth II Proof Quality Coin Set of 1970 contains all eight of these last predecimal coins issued – but with the Treasury trying to withdraw the predecimal coinage, none of these coins were released into circulation. This means that the only way to own Britain’s last predecimal coinage is to own one of these sets! And now Hattons of London brings you that opportunity.
The Queen Elizabeth II Proof Quality Coin Set of 1970 is housed in a protective display case that was ultrasonically sealed at the Mint in the year of issue to preserve the quality of the coins. This means that today these coins have only minor traces of the toning you might expect on coins of such age.
Also included with each set is a dated Royal Mint medallion which was an additional bonus for collectors. This is a lovely dated medal which carries the coat of arms of the Royal Mint on one side and the date on the other, and it was introduced specially for the issue of the 1970 set.