£
Currency

British Coin Denominations from Roman Times to Date

Author: Juliana Chard - Chief Numismatist

Published: 21 Sep 2018

Last Updated: 26 Dec 2022

Synopsis

Complete table of British coin denominations (names) and face values in alphabetical order. Over 120 listed with first date & reign.

British Coin Denominations - This list of British coin denominations includes a number of Roman denominations, as they were used in Britain when it was under the influence of Roman rule. Some first dates quoted may be approximate. If you spot any errors or improvements please let us know. I have not differentiated between issues of a denomination struck in different metals. For example, the florin is shown as having been first issued in 1344, when it was a gold coin. This may surprise those who have in mind the silver florin which entered circulation in 1849. I may at some later stage revise this list to show major changes in metal, however a thoroughly accurate listing would become slightly pedantic. Continuing with the florin example, it changed from a sterling silver coin after 1919, to become a debased silver coin with a 50% silver content, and after 1946, it was reduced to a silvery coloured cupro-nickel coin. The more observant will notice that I have not completed the "last date" column, this will follow shortly. Of course we could turn it into a competition. The first to complete the list, and advise me of the one deliberate error included in the table wins the nominal prize, an honorary mention and a pint. Non deliberate errors don't count towards the prize!

Full Table - A to Z Denomination

Denomination First Date First Reign Last Date Value £sd £.p 1/- d
angel 1464 Edward IV 1642 6/8d 0.333 6/8d 80
antoninianus roman - - - - - -
argenteus roman - - - - - -
as roman - - - - - -
aureus roman - - - - - -
britain crown 1604 James I 1619 - - - -
britannia fifty pounds 1987 Elizabeth II - £50 - - -
britannia one hundred pounds 1987 Elizabeth II - £100 - - -
britannia ten pounds 1987 Elizabeth II - £10 - -  -
britannia twenty five pounds 1987 Elizabeth II £25   -  -
broad 1656 Commonwealth 1656    £1 1.00   20/-  240
centenionalis roman - -
crown 1544 Henry VIII 1965   £5/-  0.25  5/-  60
crown 1990 Elizabeth II -  £5  5.0  -  -
crown of the double rose 1526 Henry VIII  1544  5/-  0.25  5/-  60
crown of the rose 1526 Henry VIII  1526  4/6d  0.225  - 54
denarius roman            
dinar 774 Offa 774        
dollar 1804 George III 1804 5/- 0.25 5/- 60
double crown 1604 James I 1662 10/- 0.50 10/- 120
double florin 1887 Victoria 1890 4/- 0.20 4/- 48
double leopard 1344 Edward III 1344 2/- 0.10 2/- 24
double sovereign 1504 Henry VII 1551 £2 2.00 40/- 480
dupondius roman - - - -   -
eight testerns 1600 Elizabeth I 1601 8 reales -   -
eighteen pence 1811 George III 1816 1/6d 0.075 1/6d 18
eleven pence 1644 Charles I 1645 - 0.0458 - 11
farthing 1279 Edward I 1956 - 0.00104166 - 0.25
fifty new pence 1969 Elizabeth II 1981 - 0.50 10/- 120
fifty pence 1982 Elizabeth II - - 0.50 10/- 120
fifty shillings 1656 Commonwealth 1656 £2/10/- 2.50 50/- 600
fine sovereign 1550 Edward VI 1578 £1/10/- 1.50 30/- 360
Denomination First Date First Reign Last Date Value £sd £.p 1/- d
five guineas 1668 Charles II 1777 £5/5/- 5.25 105/- 1260
five new pence 1968 Elizabeth II 1981 - 0.05 1/- 12
five pence 1982 Elizabeth II - - 0.05 1/- 12
five pounds 1820 George III - £5 5.00 100/- 1200
five shillings 1544 Henry VIII 1965 5/- 0.25 5/- 60
five shillings and eightpence 1644 Charles I 1645 5/8d 0.2833 5/8d 68
florin 1344 Edward III 1967* 2/- 0.10 2/- 24
follis roman - - - - - -
four testerns 1600 Elizabeth I 1601 4 reales - - -
fourpence 1670 Charles II 1800 4d 0.0167 4d 4
fourpence-halfpenny 1559 Elizabeth I 1559 4.5d 0.0188 4.5d 4.5
george noble 1526 Henry VIII 1544 6/8d 0.3333 6/8d 80
groat 1279 Edward I 1888 4d 0.0167 4d 4
guinea 1663 Charles II 1813 £1/1/- 1.05 21/- 252
half angel (angelet) 1471 Edward IV 1619 3/4d 0.1666 3/4d 40
half farthing 1828 George IV 1856 .125d 0.000520833 - 0.125
half florin 1344 Edward III 1344 1/- 0.05 1/- 12
half dollar 1797 George III 1804 4/9 0.2375 4/9 57
half george noble 1526 Henry VIII 1544 3/4d 0.1666 3/4d 40
half guinea 1669 Charles II 1813 10/6d 0.525 10/6d 126
half laurel 1619 James I 1625 10/- 0.50 10/- 120
half new penny 1971 Elizabeth II 1981 - 0.005 - 1.2
half noble 1346 Edward III 1438 3/4d 0.3333 3/4d 80
half pound 1559 Elizabeth I 1646 10/- 0.50 10/- 120
half ryal 1464 Edward IV 1470 5/- 0.25 5/- 60
half sovereign 1544 Henry VIII - 10/- 0.50 10/- 120
half unit celtic c. 10 c. 61 - - - -
half unite 1642 Charles I 1645 10/- 0.50 10/- 120
halfcrown 1526 Henry VIII 1967* 2/6d 0.125 2/6d 30
halfgroat 1344 Edward III 1645 2d 0.0083 - 2
Denomination First Date First Reign Last Date Value £sd £.p 1/- d
halfpenny 886** Alfred the Great 1967* - 0.0021 - 0.5
helm 1344 Edward III 1344 6d 0.025 6d 6
laurel 1619 James I 1625 £1 1.00 20/- 240
leopard 1344 Edward III 1344 1/- 0.05 1/- 12
new penny 1971 Elizabeth II 1981 - 0.01 1981 2.4
ninepence 1645 Charles I 1812 9d 0.0375 9d 9
noble 1344 Edward III 1464 6/8d 0.3333 6/8d 80
one new penny 1971 Elizabeth II 1981 - 0.01 1981 2.4
one pound 1983 Elizabeth II - £1 1.00 20/- 240
one shilling and fourpence 1644 Charles I 1645 1/4d 0.0667 1/4d 16
one shilling and ninepence 1644 Charles I 1645 1/9d 0.0875 1/9d 21
one shilling and one penny 1644 Charles I 1645 1/1d 0.0542 1/1d 13
one shilling and sixpence 1644 Charles I 1645 1/6d 0.075 1/6d 18
one shilling and threepence 1644 Charles I 1645 1/3d 0.0625 1/3d 15
one shilling and twopence 1644 Charles I 1645 1/2d 0.0583 1/2d 14
one testern 1600 Elizabeth I 1601 1 real - - -
penny anglo-saxon - 1967* 1d 0.0042 - 1
penny (decimal) 1982 Elizabeth II - - 0.01 - 2.4
pound 1578 Elizabeth I - £1 1.00 20/- 240
quadrans roman - - - - - -
quarter angel 1578 Elizabeth I 1600 1/8d 0.0792 1/8d 20
quarter farthing 1839 Victoria 1853 .0625d 0.0002604166 - 0.0625
quarter florin 1344 Edward III 1344 6d 0.025 6d 6
quarter guinea 1718 George I 1762 5/3d 0.2625 5/3d 63
quarter laurel 1619 James I 1625 5/- 0.25 5/- 60
quarter noble 1344 Edward III 1464 1/8d 0.0792 1/8d 20
quarter ryal 1464 Edward IV 1470 2/6d 0.125 2/6d 30
quarter sovereign 2009 Elizabeth II - 5/- 0.25 5/- 60
quarter stater celtic c. 20BC c. 61 - - - -
quarter unit celtic c. 20BC c. 61 - - - -
Denomination First Date First Reign Last Date Value £sd £.p 1/- d
quinarius roman - - - - - -
rose ryal 1604 James I 1625 £1/10/- 1.50 30/- 360
ryal (rose noble) 1464 Edward IV 1600 10/- 0.50 10/- 120
sceat saxon - 900 - - - -
semis roman - - - - - -
sestertius roman - - - - - -
sevenpence 1644 Charles I 1645 - 0.02917 7d 7
shilling 1548 Henry VIII 1967* 1/- 0.05 1/- 12
siliqua roman - - - - - -
sixpence 1550 Edward VI 1967* 6d 0.025 6d 6
solidus roman - 854 - - - -
sovereign 1489 Henry VII - £1 1.00 20/- 240
spur ryal 1604 James I 1625 15/- 0.75 15/- 180
stater celtic - c. 61 - - - -
ten new pence 1968 Elizabeth II 1981 - 0.10 2/- 24
ten shillings 1648 Charles I 1648 10/- 0.50 10/- 120
tenpence 1644 Charles I 1645 - 0.0417 10d 10
ten pence (new) 1982 Elizabeth II - - 0.10 2/- 24
testoon 1487 Henry VII 1551 1/- 0.05 1/- 12
third farthing 1827 George IV 1913 .0833d 0.0003422 - 0.0833
third guinea 1797 George III 1813 6/8d 0.35 7/- 84
thistle crown 1604 James I 1619 4/- 0.20 4/- 48
three shillings 1644 Charles I 1816 3/- 0.15 3/- 36
three shillings and fourpence 1644 Charles I 1645 3/4- 0.1667 3/4d 40
threefarthings 1561 Elizabeth I 1582 .75d 0.0031 - 0.75
threehalfpence 1578 Elizabeth I 1862 1.5d 0.0063 - 1.5
threepence - brass 1937 George VI 1967* 3d 0.0125 3d 3
threepence - silver 1551 Edward VI 1944 3d 0.0125 3d 3
thrymsa saxon - c. 775 - - - -
treble sovereign 1504 Henry VII 1509 £3 3.00 60/- 720
triple unite 1642 Charles I 1644 £3 3.00 60/- 720
Denomination First Date First Reign Last Date Value £sd £.p 1/- d
twenty five new pence 1972 Elizabeth II 1981 5/- 0.25 5/- 60
twenty pence 1257 Henry III 1257 1/8 0.0833 1/8d 20
twenty pence (new) 1982 Elizabeth II - 4/- 0.20 4/- 48
two guineas 1664 Charles II 1777 £2/2/- 2.10 42/- 504
two pence (new) 1971 Elizabeth II 1981 - 0.02 - 4.8
two pounds 1820 George III - £2 2.00 40/- 480
two shillings and fourpence 1644 Charles I 1645 2/4d 0.1167 2/4d 28
two shillings and tenpence 1644 Charles I 1645 2/10d 0.1417 2/10d 34
two shillings and twopence 1644 Charles I 1645 2/2d 0.1083 2/2d 26
two testerns 1600 Elizabeth I 1601 2 reales - - -
twopence 1660 Charles II 1797 2d 0.0083 2d 2
twopence-farthing 1559 Elizabeth I 1559 2.25d 0.0094 2.25d 2.25
unite 1604 James I 1662 £1 1.00 20/- 240

 

Notes

886** - The previous earliest halfpenny was for Alfred the Great, but one has since been recorded for Ceolwolf, dating it between 875 to 880.
1967* - Although the last date for these pre-decimal coins was 1967, a proof set was struck to commemorate the old £sd currency, containing coins dated 1970. These were only issued in the proof set for sale to collectors.

Maundy coins of fourpence, threepence, twopence and one penny are still produced annually, for presentation in the Maundy ceremony.

Finally...

For those not familiar with pre-decimal coins and monetary notation, values in pounds shillings and pence (£.s.d) were written in several ways. Five guineas which was 5 pounds and five shillings, was written 5 Gns, or £5/5/-, sometimes expressed as shillings, 105/-. Shillings and pence amounts were written 5/10 or 5/10d, and if halfpennies or farthings were present, then they would be shown as £15/12/23/4, meaning 15 pounds, 12 shillings, 2 pence, and 3 farthings.

The symbols £ meaning pound is from the latin libra meaning pound; s is not for shilling but for solidus, and d is for denarius.

A strange corruption has befallen the English language since decimalisation. The d for penny or pence was always pronounced as "penny" or "pence",

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