Mint Sport - Has Anybody Heard of any Other New Coinage Restrikes Over

[VickySilver]

I wonder if anybody else has either seen or heard of any others. I curently have (NOT FOR SALE) a 1981 New Pence struck over a 1953 sixpence with underdate type and date readable. Coin is gem unc. by US standards, but would likely be by UK standards as well in a PCGS65 tomb/plastic.

It may have been oriented on the die on purpose, versus chance alignment because it would have been hard to show the earlier date under the overstrike. Out of curiosity, what do you think it might be worth?

Sorry about not being able to show a picture, one day I will figure it out.

[1949threepence]

It sounds incredible.

Why would a 1953 sixpence be in the mix when 1981 1p's were being struck ? I can't quite get my head round it

[hertfordian]

It sounds incredible.

Why would a 1953 sixpence be in the mix when 1981 1p's were being struck ? I can't quite get my head round it

Not sure about the answer to that but FWIW, I do recall going on a visit to the Royal Mint around 1981/2 (when such tours were still fairly commonplace as I understand it) and I remember seeing large hoppers full of old coins which were just sitting there presumably awaiting meltdown. Perhaps one of these "found" its way into the presses to start a new life as a decimal coin...??

Just my 2 penny-worth (over-struck on an old ship halfpenny of course!!)

[1949threepence]

It sounds incredible.

Why would a 1953 sixpence be in the mix when 1981 1p's were being struck ? I can't quite get my head round it

Not sure about the answer to that but FWIW, I do recall going on a visit to the Royal Mint around 1981/2 (when such tours were still fairly commonplace as I understand it) and I remember seeing large hoppers full of old coins which were just sitting there presumably awaiting meltdown. Perhaps one of these "found" its way into the presses to start a new life as a decimal coin...??

Just my 2 penny-worth (over-struck on an old ship halfpenny of course!!)

That does sort of explain how it might have happened. A similar thought went through my head when I first read it, but I dismissed the idea as I thought that all the available old currency would have been melted down several years before.

Edited August 16, 2009 by 1949threepence

[VickySilver]

The thing that is interesting is that the 6d date shows up perfectly in the gap in the legend on the overstruck 1 pence. I actually bought it about 4 or 5 years ago from a smaller auction, can't remember at the moment. Rather a sore thumb in a hopper full of copper blanks as it is of course coppernickel with excellent lustre.

[Sylvester]

That does sort of explain how it might have happened. A similar thought went through my head when I first read it, but I dismissed the idea as I thought that all the available old currency would have been melted down several years before.

Not necessarily! The last circulating sixpences were withdrawn and returned to the mint in 1980, the exact same year that the 1981 coins would have gone into production!

[scottishmoney]

I remember when the tanners, the new 2.5 p, were called in, because all of a sudden there was a bit of a rush to hoard them for weddings etc. The old saying and a sixpence in her shoe. In the USA they were selling for $1 each, quite a bit over face value.

[scott]

what were 6D's being used for in decimalization, the only coin that is that size is the current 5p

[Sylvester]

what were 6D's being used for in decimalization, the only coin that is that size is the current 5p

The following coins survived decimalisation;

2/- as 10p (until June 1993)

1/- as 5p (Until Dec 1990)

6d as 2.5p (Until June 1980).

I get the impression though that by 1980 6ds weren't that common in circulation.

[Peckris]

I get the impression though that by 1980 6ds weren't that common in circulation.

I read in MOJO just today that Brian May used sixpences as his plectrum, and a bag full would be given to him before each tour! I'm not quite sure what he does for them now - if anyone has a good supply of old tanners, they should jump at the chance to append "Official Supplier to Brian May" after their name

[Chris Perkins]

Everyone knows that! I think he must have a personal supply of them. They no doubt wear much slower than plastic plectrums, too.

I once sold some sixpences to a Japanese guitar shop that intended to market them as Brian May plectrums in case any buddung Japanese Bohemian Rhapsodists desired a more authentic 'metal' tone.

[scottishmoney]

I hae quite a few tanners in me hoard, but nary a one for Brian May.

[VickySilver]

Probably will not give the error one above to him for those purposes. Chris, what do you think such a coin might be worth; usually I have a pretty good idea, but it is apparently a one-off and suppose the price would be then dependent on what two (or more) bidders might take it to???

[Chris Perkins]

Can you post pictures of it?

The only slight problem is that it is in theory so impossible as an error, that any potential buyers may: 1. doubt its authenticity or, 2. consider it as a coin a mint employee made for a laugh! No. 2 is possible of course.

It is unusual and possibly unique, but don't be too greedy as UK errors are historically pretty cheap. You may find someone for a couple of hundred quid, but I don't think we're talking thousands.

[scottishmoney]

I would have to think the piece would command a bit more as a more likely deliberately contrived error in contrast to something that was created by accident.

[VickySilver]

Yes, I will try to find a way to get a picture up. I assure you the coin is genuine, and not because (actually NGC) the TPG says so. The undertype is clear, the coin is quite a nice example and the gem classification not unreasonably applied.

So, not just on OMS (off metal strike) but clearly struck on the earlier bit. I have been asked to evaluate such esoterica before and difficult to evaluate; in a sense it does not matter as it is not up for sale but then again we tend to have such prurient interests...

[scottishmoney]

So, not just on OMS (off metal strike) but clearly struck on the earlier bit. I have been asked to evaluate such esoterica before and difficult to evaluate; in a sense it does not matter as it is not up for sale but then again we tend to have such prurient interests...

I thought that was what numismatics was all about