Great Britain 1981 5 pence

Goldberg NY International sale 58, part of lot 1191

This specimen was part of lot 1191 in Goldberg's NY International sale 58 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $3,360. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Great Britain. Elizabeth II (1952-2022). Nine Piece Commemorative Proof Coin Collection, 1981. Issued by the Royal Mint for the Royal Marriage with Gold Sovereign and 5 Pounds, plus Silver Crown of Prince Charles and Lady Diana and legal tender coins. In original red case of issue. Choice Gem Proof." This five new pence, or 1/20 of a pound, was introduced in 1968 as part of the decimal reform. It was struck to the same module as the superseded shilling, which had the same value. It was struck in this style until 1982, when the word "new" was dropped from the reverse. The module was reduced to 3.25 g in 1990. Some dates, such as 1972-74 and 1981, were struck only for collector sets.

Recorded mintage: 100,300 proofs.

Specification: copper-nickel, 5.65 g, 23.6 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 911, KM PS40 (proof set).

Source:

• Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
• Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg NY International 2023 Sale, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2022.

Link to:

• 1979 5 new pence
• 1981 half new penny
• 1981 new penny
• 1981 2 new pence
• 1981 10 new pence
• 1981 25 new pence, wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana
• 1981 50 new pence
• 1981 sovereign
• 1981 5 pounds
• 1990 5 pence, reduced size
• Coins and currency dated 1981