Set of Britain's First Decimal Coins

This is a commemorative set of the first decimal coins issued for decimalisation on Monday 15th February 1971.

Of this set, only the 1p and 2p remain unchanged, with the halfpenny going out of circulation in 1984 and the 5p and 10p being changed for the coins we now use in 1990 and 1992 respectively.

'The change of British coins to the new decimal system was announced in March 1966, with the introduction of the 5p and 10p in 1968. These coins were the same size and value as the coins they were replacing so could be in circulation at the same time.

This commemorative set was sold in large numbers from 1968, even though the copper coins were not yet in circulation, to promote familiarity with the coins ahead of 'D-Day' in February 1971, the date of the official change to decimal currency.

For more information visit: https://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/journal/history/decimalisation/