A reminder of days gone by.
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
May 4, 2016 9:15am CST
While clearing out the storage area where I keep bed quilts and pillows etcetera, I came across a crown that I acquired back in 1977. This is something that I had completely forgotten about, but the find certainly reminded me.
A crown was Five shillings during our pre decimal days of currency. This denomination had been scarce for many years, but was often used to issue commemorative pieces.
Even after we adopted the decimal system in 1971, the crown remained although now with a face value of 25 pence.
This particular coin was issued in 1977 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It was legal tender and issued through the banks, so I drew £10 out of my bank account and requested Jubilee Crowns.
This gave me 40 of those coins, which I had great fun spending over the following few weeks because very few people expected them to be circulating. I recall being quite surprised that nobody objected to accepting them.
20 people like this
19 responses
@celticeagle (158614)
• Boise, Idaho
4 May 16
That's interesting. Now you have another one. Or did you save just one?
2 people like this
@celticeagle (158614)
• Boise, Idaho
4 May 16
@Asylum ....well, ya got one if you need it I guess.
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@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 May 16
@celticeagle It is not something that I particularly need, but was interesting to come across.
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@Marilynda1225 (79549)
• United States
4 May 16
Never know what you're going to come across when you sort through things. Interesting coin and is it worth anything?
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@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 May 16
This reminds me of an occasion many moons ago. I had a pair of trousers that I rarely wore and put them on one day to discover a large was of banknotes in the pocket. It felt like several hundred pounds, but turned out to be pesetas.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111068)
• El Paso, Texas
5 May 16
Some of the books I've read in the past have mentioned crowns but I've never actually seen one nor do I have a clue just what the face value would be. Come to think of it I haven't a clue what a pence or shilling is either but many of the novels I've read would mention those denominations.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457307)
• Switzerland
4 May 16
When the first Euro coins were issued, we lived in Monte-Carlo, they issued special coins with Prince Rainieri on one face. The residents had the right to ask to the post office one envelope with the equivalent of 10 Euros in coins. I made the big mistake to spend them all... I have no one Monte-Carlo euro coin left.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
4 May 16
Money is historically interesting. I find the whole concept a little like science fiction. Most money is worthless in reality. A coin may make a handy screwdriver, or level out a chair, but not much else.
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@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 May 16
@ElizabethWallace This same argument applies to diamonds and several other "precious" items. Their value is based purely on demand, whereas their usefulness is less impressive.
A kilo of gold or a 2 carat diamond would be pointless if others did not offer great wealth to buy them.
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@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
4 May 16
@Asylum Yes, but even gold has little real "value". It's great for jewelry and cups, or other decorations, but not as useful as some other metals.
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@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
4 May 16
It's so nice that you still keep it and found it too! When I was young, I always wondered why my parents didn't keep some of the coins or banknotes they were using in those old days, those coins are really precious (not for money, but for memory).
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@allknowing (130067)
• India
6 May 16
My Europe tour was before the Euro was introduced. We toured 7 countries and I have loose coins belonging to all these countries.
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@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
6 May 16
@allknowing That was,due to the autocomplete changing the word I was typing. It has now been edited.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
5 May 16
I wonder if it has increased in value? I am curious about it current value.
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@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
4 May 16
It sounds like something fun to do.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18888)
• United States
6 May 16
That's cool. Too bad you didn't save them. Would they be worth something years down the road?
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@silvermist (19702)
• India
4 May 16
@Asylum Here if a coin is not in circulation for some time,people hesitate to accept it when we try to spend it .
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
4 May 16
OH my word. I can not believe you spent them. My father brought us every commemorative crown going!
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