🔎 About the 1962 British 1 Penny Coin

Part of Britain’s pre-decimal currency system, the 1962 penny carries the first effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the long-standing figure of Britannia on its reverse — an image used for over 300 years.

Specifications:

• Material: Bronze

• Weight: 9.45 grams

• Diameter: 30.8 mm

• Edge: Plain

• Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II, First Portrait by Mary Gillick

• Reverse: Britannia seated with trident and shield

• Mint: Royal Mint, London

🕰 Historical Context

The early 1960s marked a period of optimism and modernization in the UK. The empire was transitioning, television was rising in popularity, and decimalisation was less than a decade away. In 1962, this penny was still part of daily life — a coin that might've bought a newspaper, a loaf of bread, or a bus ride.

💡 Collecting Insights

• Pre-Decimal Classic: Coins like this are highly collectible as symbols of an era that ended with decimalisation in 1971.

• Elegant Design: Mary Gillick’s uncrowned portrait of the Queen offers a graceful contrast to later royal profiles.

• From Forgotten to Found: Your storage discovery adds personal value, turning a common coin into a documented journey from past to present.

Though once passed from hand to hand without thought, this penny now finds new meaning in your collection — not just as currency, but as history revived.