Why only in 1933 ... ?

[Peckris]

Every coin collector knows that the reason for minting 1933 pennies was so that old Georgie-boy could lay a full set of coins of the year under the foundation stone of public buildings he was opening. there were about 5 or 6, which I assume was about average for a year of his reign.

So here's the thing. What about 1923 and 1924 (no pennies or 3ds), 1925 (no pennies), 1929 (no 3ds), and 1934 (no florins)? Are we to assume he didn't open any buildings in those years? Then there's 1941/2/3 (no pennies - but I'm sure there was still a building programme and a royal presence, even in the War). And all those penny-free years of the 1950s - one of those years saw the opening of the new Coventry Cathedral, and that's just for starters.

Why was there only a one-year mission - 1933 - to create complete sets of coins for foundation stones?

[1949threepence]

Maybe, like so many things, it was just a fad which arose in that year, never to be repeated. A sort of Royal Mint "one hit wonder".

[Rob]

It is possible there was some sort of trial going on at the mint given that Lavrillier also did a pattern penny in that year.

The mint would only make coins depending on demand for the various denominations. This explains the random absences in certain years. I would contest that the 1933 penny wasn't struck simply so the King could place a full set under the foundation stones, because, as you note there is no 1934 florin, yet he will almost certainly have performed opening ceremonies during the year. I don't have an example, but assume he did - correct me if you know anything to the contrary. Moreover, the Royal Mint produced official boxes for the proof sets in this year that were missing the florin, so the decision not to strike any of this denomination was presumably made late in 1933. This should indicate that there was no absolute requirement for a set including each denomination.

[Peckris]

It is possible there was some sort of trial going on at the mint given that Lavrillier also did a pattern penny in that year.

The mint would only make coins depending on demand for the various denominations. This explains the random absences in certain years. I would contest that the 1933 penny wasn't struck simply so the King could place a full set under the foundation stones, because, as you note there is no 1934 florin, yet he will almost certainly have performed opening ceremonies during the year. I don't have an example, but assume he did - correct me if you know anything to the contrary. Moreover, the Royal Mint produced official boxes for the proof sets in this year that were missing the florin, so the decision not to strike any of this denomination was presumably made late in 1933. This should indicate that there was no absolute requirement for a set including each denomination.

Yes, I'd pondered the Lavrillier connection too. Maybe the team working on those got a memo, "Hey guys, while you're at it, would you knock up a reverse die for the normal penny so we can make up sets for building openings?" Or, an even more outrageous theory : maybe the 'set completers' were normally produced on the quiet, but the Lavrillier patterns blew their cover for just that one year?

[1949threepence]

Whatever speculative theories are propounded in an attempt to address this question, the truth is, we will never ever really know the answer.

Maybe the question should be approached from the angle of why the monarch of the day opened buildings before 1933 and subsequently, without (necessarily)a full set of coins, or indeed any coins, being buried under the foundation stone. Whose idea was it in 1933 ? ~ the King himself, his advisors, or the Royal Mint ?

According to this link it was the King himself ~ although how they presume to know that is anybody's guess.

The British 1933 penny was never produced for circulation. In fact, because of the enough supply of pennies in 1933, there was no need to produce more. However, the mint received requests from the King to mint 1933 coins to be placed under the foundation stones of buildings erected in the said year.

[Peckris]

Whatever speculative theories are propounded in an attempt to address this question, the truth is, we will never ever really know the answer.

Maybe the question should be approached from the angle of why the monarch of the day opened buildings before 1933 and subsequently, without (necessarily)a full set of coins, or indeed any coins, being buried under the foundation stone. Whose idea was it in 1933 ? ~ the King himself, his advisors, or the Royal Mint ?

According to this link it was the King himself ~ although how they presume to know that is anybody's guess.

The British 1933 penny was never produced for circulation. In fact, because of the enough supply of pennies in 1933, there was no need to produce more. However, the mint received requests from the King to mint 1933 coins to be placed under the foundation stones of buildings erected in the said year.

Thanks for that link 1949 - though the webpage is very poorly written! Interestingly, they don't mention the Edward VIII 3d bits, nor the 1952 halfcrown or 1954 penny, which are famously rare too.

[VickySilver]

What about the 1922 rev. 1927 Penny in the two specimen sets. The year was 1924, put together a couple of specimen/proof sets and went back and struck TWO pennies of what would be the current type but with the 1922 date!

[1949threepence]

Whatever speculative theories are propounded in an attempt to address this question, the truth is, we will never ever really know the answer.

Maybe the question should be approached from the angle of why the monarch of the day opened buildings before 1933 and subsequently, without (necessarily)a full set of coins, or indeed any coins, being buried under the foundation stone. Whose idea was it in 1933 ? ~ the King himself, his advisors, or the Royal Mint ?

According to this link it was the King himself ~ although how they presume to know that is anybody's guess.

The British 1933 penny was never produced for circulation. In fact, because of the enough supply of pennies in 1933, there was no need to produce more. However, the mint received requests from the King to mint 1933 coins to be placed under the foundation stones of buildings erected in the said year.

Thanks for that link 1949 - though the webpage is very poorly written! Interestingly, they don't mention the Edward VIII 3d bits, nor the 1952 halfcrown or 1954 penny, which are famously rare too.

It is poorly written. I thought that as well.

[declanwmagee]

It was a masonic thing - 1933 as a nod to the 33rd degree and the laying of foundation stones being an important masonic ritual (cf. George Washington and his famous trowel). George V, and his Dad, both being important in the Masonic world. Edward VII was very high up.

Maybe.

[Peckris]

It was a masonic thing - 1933 as a nod to the 33rd degree and the laying of foundation stones being an important masonic ritual (cf. George Washington and his famous trowel). George V, and his Dad, both being important in the Masonic world. Edward VII was very high up.

Maybe.

Or, "we might think so, but you couldn't possibly comment", eh Declan?