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1 Cent - Elizabeth II Decimal Pattern
| Issuer | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Year | 1961 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Milled |
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| Obverse description | Right-facing laureate effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, engraved by Mary Gillick, depicting the young Queen with a laurel wreath in her hair and a ribbon tied at the nape. The truncation of the neck is bare. The circumferential legend reads ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRATIA·REGINA·F:D: with a cross pattée separating the end and beginning of the inscription, all enclosed within a beaded border. |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the British government was under mounting pressure to decimalise its currency — a reform that had been proposed, debated, and shelved repeatedly since the 18th century. Pattern pieces were struck experimentally during this period to test denominations and sizes before any public commitment was made. The Halsbury Committee, appointed in 1961, ultimately recommended full decimalisation, though the actual transition didn't occur until 1971.
This piece predates that decision by months, placing it squarely in the exploratory phase rather than any confirmed production program.