May 2023 Group Meeting media report
'The Times They are A-Changing’ (sung by Bob Dylan) could be said about the use of coins. These days many people do not use cash at all and after the Coronation of Charles III there will be new coins minted with his head on one side – but which way will he face? According to Jo Livingston in her presentation on coinage at our May meeting he will face left, as Elizabeth II faces right. The only monarch who refused to conform to this arrangement was Edward VIII – he wanted his ‘best side’ on the coins vain man! He was King for such a short time that the pattern pieces for the coins with his head on were locked away in a cupboard for forty years.
Jo showed images of coins which have been part of our monetary system and language. These include the farthing; halfpenny; penny; threepence piece; sixpence; florin and half-crown. The tiny copper farthing started out in the 1200’s as a silver penny but because few people could afford to buy very much it was quartered, each piece called a ‘fourthing’. The ship design on the halfpenny commemorated the flagship of Frances Drake. Does anyone play shove halfpenny anymore? Who remembers door furniture used to ‘spend a penny’? Also called thruppence and truppenny bit, this coin was silver when minted in the 1550’s. It became twelve sided in 1937. Slang names for the sixpence coin were ‘tanner’ thought to be after coin designer John Sigismund Tanner and ‘bender’ as in the Georgian period this coin contained a high amount of silver, making it pliable. Half a sixpence was said to be shared by lovers as a token. During the Napoleonic Wars finding a shilling at the bottom of your tankard meant you had accepted ‘The King’s Shilling’ and likely to be ‘press ganged into the navy’.
Historically paper money was regarded as second-best to coins. At the start of WW1 The Treasury issued £1 and 10/- (10 shillings) notes – known as ‘Bradbury’s’ after The Secretary to the Treasury Sir John Bradbury. Women appeared on banknotes in 1975 (Florence Nightingale) and 2002 (Elizabeth Fry).
Jo said that coins are designed by sculptors and notes by painters. The British Mint issues annual commemorative sets. Although classed as non-circulatory legal tender the silver and gold sets are collector’s items and not likely to be used to make purchases.
I expect many members will be looking through cupboards and pots to see if there are any valuable old coins which have been hidden away for years. If you find any do let us know for the newsletter!
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 7th June when Peter Daniel will tell us the story of the fabric printers of Crayford.
7pm for 7.30 start at The Alexandra Suite St Mary's Road Swanley BR8 7BU. £2 members (£5 Annual membership), £3 visitors Everyone welcome, no need to book.
'The Times They are A-Changing’ (sung by Bob Dylan) could be said about the use of coins. These days many people do not use cash at all and after the Coronation of Charles III there will be new coins minted with his head on one side – but which way will he face? According to Jo Livingston in her presentation on coinage at our May meeting he will face left, as Elizabeth II faces right. The only monarch who refused to conform to this arrangement was Edward VIII – he wanted his ‘best side’ on the coins vain man! He was King for such a short time that the pattern pieces for the coins with his head on were locked away in a cupboard for forty years.
Jo showed images of coins which have been part of our monetary system and language. These include the farthing; halfpenny; penny; threepence piece; sixpence; florin and half-crown. The tiny copper farthing started out in the 1200’s as a silver penny but because few people could afford to buy very much it was quartered, each piece called a ‘fourthing’. The ship design on the halfpenny commemorated the flagship of Frances Drake. Does anyone play shove halfpenny anymore? Who remembers door furniture used to ‘spend a penny’? Also called thruppence and truppenny bit, this coin was silver when minted in the 1550’s. It became twelve sided in 1937. Slang names for the sixpence coin were ‘tanner’ thought to be after coin designer John Sigismund Tanner and ‘bender’ as in the Georgian period this coin contained a high amount of silver, making it pliable. Half a sixpence was said to be shared by lovers as a token. During the Napoleonic Wars finding a shilling at the bottom of your tankard meant you had accepted ‘The King’s Shilling’ and likely to be ‘press ganged into the navy’.
Historically paper money was regarded as second-best to coins. At the start of WW1 The Treasury issued £1 and 10/- (10 shillings) notes – known as ‘Bradbury’s’ after The Secretary to the Treasury Sir John Bradbury. Women appeared on banknotes in 1975 (Florence Nightingale) and 2002 (Elizabeth Fry).
Jo said that coins are designed by sculptors and notes by painters. The British Mint issues annual commemorative sets. Although classed as non-circulatory legal tender the silver and gold sets are collector’s items and not likely to be used to make purchases.
I expect many members will be looking through cupboards and pots to see if there are any valuable old coins which have been hidden away for years. If you find any do let us know for the newsletter!
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 7th June when Peter Daniel will tell us the story of the fabric printers of Crayford.
7pm for 7.30 start at The Alexandra Suite St Mary's Road Swanley BR8 7BU. £2 members (£5 Annual membership), £3 visitors Everyone welcome, no need to book.