George V Threepence

A complete gallery of George V Threepence. This series features some interesting varieties and rarities, including low mintage years and collectible conditions. Collectors should note the key dates and specific design variations across the years.

1920 Threepence

George V Threepence

1911 Threepence Hollow Neck 1911 – Hollow Neck
1911 Threepence Flat Neck 1911 – Flat Neck
1911 Threepence Reverse A 1911 – Reverse A
1912 Threepence 1912
1913 Threepence 1913
1914 Threepence Obverse 2 1914 – Obverse 2
1914 Threepence Obverse 3 1914 – Obverse 3
1915 Threepence 1915
1916 Threepence 1916
1917 Threepence 1917
1918 Threepence 1918
1919 Threepence 1919
1920 Threepence 1920
1921 Threepence 1921
1922 Threepence 1922
1925 Threepence 1925
1926 Threepence First Effigy 1926 – First Effigy
1926 Threepence Modified Effigy 1926 – Modified Effigy
Proof only 1927 – Proof Only
1928 Threepence 1928
1930 Threepence 1930
1931 Threepence 1931
1932 Threepence 1932
1933 Threepence 1933
1934 Threepence 1934
1935 Threepence 1935
1936 Threepence 1936

1911

As well as the usual Hollow Neck/Flat Neck types found in almost all the 1911 coins, two reverses were used in this year, giving a potential for 4 varieties for 1911. One is tantalisingly unconfirmed by Davies. It's always worth keeping an eye out for unconfirmed Davies numbers – a few have been found.

Reverses

  • β–  Reverse A – Centre leaf comes from between the two berry stalks
  • β–  Reverse B – Centre leaf comes from the left-hand stalk

Obverses

  • β–  Obverse 1 – Hollow Neck – I of BRITT points at a bead; Davies 1920 (Common)
  • β–  Obverse 1 – Hollow Neck – Davies 1922 (Unconfirmed)
  • β–  Obverse 2 – Flat Neck – Davies 1921 (Slightly Scarcer)
  • β–  Obverse 2 – Flat Neck – Davies 1923 (Really Quite Scarce)
Obverse 1: Hollow Neck Reverse A
1911 Threepence Obv 1 Hollow Neck
β–  I of BRITT points at a bead
β–  Diagnostic pointings used for correct Obverse 		1911 Threepence Reverse A
β–  Centre leaf comes from between the two berry stalks
Obverse 1: Hollow Neck Reverse B
1911 Threepence Obv 1 Hollow Neck
β–  I of BRITT points at a bead
β–  Diagnostic pointings used for correct Obverse 		1911 Threepence Reverse B
β–  Centre leaf comes from the left-hand stalk
Obverse 2: Flat Neck Reverse A
1911 Threepence Obv 2 Flat Neck
β–  I of BRITT points between beads 		1911 Threepence Reverse A
β–  Centre leaf comes from between the two berry stalks
Obverse 2: Flat Neck Reverse B
1911 Threepence Obv 2 Flat Neck
β–  I of BRITT points between beads 		1911 Threepence Reverse B
β–  Centre leaf comes from the left-hand stalk

1912

Ever noticed how the years after a Coronation are scarce in high grade?

1903, 1912, 1938, 1954

Because they weren't new any more, people didn't hoard them.

1912 Threepence
Obverse 2: Standard Reverse B: Standard
1912 Threepence Obverse 2 1912 Threepence Reverse B

1913

Obverse 2, Reverse B – typical design for this year.

1913 Threepence
Obverse 2: Standard Reverse B: Standard
1913 Threepence Obverse 2 1913 Threepence Reverse B

1914

Part way through 1914, in common with the farthing, a slightly different Obverse design was introduced. Pointings are the easiest way to distinguish them.

  • β–  Obverse 2 – I of GEORGIVS just right of a bead
  • β–  Obverse 3 – I of GEORGIVS just left of a bead
1914 Threepence Varieties
Reverse B Obverse 2 – Slightly Scarcer
1914 Threepence Reverse B 1914 Threepence Obverse 2
Reverse B Obverse 3 – Somewhat Commoner
1914 Threepence Reverse B 1914 Threepence Obverse 3

1915

Obverse 3, Reverse B – standard design for this year.

1915 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse B
1915 Threepence Obverse 3 1915 Threepence Reverse B

1916

Obverse 3, Reverse B – standard design for this year.

1916 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse B
1916 Threepence Obverse 3 1916 Threepence Reverse B

1917

Obverse 3, Reverse B – standard design for this year.

1917 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse B
1917 Threepence Obverse 3 1917 Threepence Reverse B

1918

Obverse 3, Reverse C – note the change in reverse type from previous years.

1918 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse C
1918 Threepence Obverse 3 1918 Threepence Reverse C

1919

Obverse 3, Reverse B.
Keep an eye out for a rare 9/8 variety – the second "9" in the date is the key.

1919 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse B
1919 Threepence Obverse 3 1919 Threepence Reverse B

1920

The composition of all the silver coins was debased in 1920 from 92.5% sterling silver to 50% silver. Initially the alloy used was Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 10%, but this was not found to be satisfactory, and consequently some coins from 1920 have manganese in their alloy. Ag 50%, Cu 50% was tried briefly and found to be even worse, and finally Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 5%, Zn 5% was settled on. This alloy saw the coinage through to the final removal of silver in 1946.

Both sterling and 50% silver threepences have been found dated 1920, and those with better trained ears than I can tell from the ring which is which. I can’t, and I was never that comfortable with dropping coins on a hard surface in order to listen to the ring, so this is a variety that I never attempted to include.

  • β–  Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 10%
  • β–  Ag 50%, Cu 45%, Mn 5%
  • β–  Ag 50%, Cu 50%
1920 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse C
1920 Threepence Obverse 3 1920 Threepence Reverse C

1921

Scarce type with narrower "2" in the date.

1921 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse B
1921 Threepence Obverse 3 1921 Threepence Reverse B

1922

  • β–  Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 10%
  • β–  Ag 50%, Cu 45%, Mn 5%
  • β–  Ag 50%, Cu 50%
1922 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse B
1922 Threepence Obverse 3 1922 Threepence Reverse B

1923 - No 3p for this year.

1924 - No 3p for this year.

1925

Composition Ag 50% and Cu 50%.

1925 Threepence
Obverse 3 Reverse B
1925 Threepence Obverse 3 1925 Threepence Reverse B

1926

Both a First Head and a Modified Head threepence exist for 1926. The Modified Head is somewhat commoner, suggesting that the changeover took place fairly early in the year. Although ghosting was not a huge problem in such a small coin, the Modified Head was introduced across denominations in 1925–1926. It’s not always easy to identify which head is which, so use the following pointings to be sure:

  • β–  Ag 50%, Cu 50%

Obverse Varieties

  • β–  First Head
    • β–  I of GEORGIVS points at a bead
    • β–  B of BRITT points at a bead
  • β–  Modified Head
    • β–  I of GEORGIVS points between beads
    • β–  B of BRITT points between beads
1926 Threepence Varieties
Obverse 3 – First Head Reverse
1926 Threepence First Head Obverse 1926 Threepence First Head Reverse
Obverse 4 – Modified Head Reverse
1926 Threepence Modified Head Obverse 1926 Threepence Modified Head Reverse

1927 - To mark the introduction of new reverse designs across the silver coinage, 15,000 limited edition Proof sets were issued in 1927. Any threepence dated 1927 will be from one of these sets; they are highly collectable.

1928

From this point onwards, the alloy is Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 5%, Zn 5%, and the obverse and reverse designs remain unchanged.

1928 and 1930 silver threepences are noticeably scarcer than their neighbours.

  • β–  Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 5%, Zn 5%
1928 Threepence
Obverse Reverse
1928 Threepence Obverse 1928 Threepence Reverse

1929 - No coins bearing the date 1929 were issued.

1930

1928 and 1930 silver threepences are noticeably scarcer than their neighbours. No coins bearing the date 1929 were issued.

1930 Threepence
Obverse Reverse
1930 Threepence Obverse 1930 Threepence Reverse

1931

1931 Threepence
Obverse Reverse
1931 Threepence Obverse 1931 Threepence Reverse

1932

1932 Threepence
Obverse Reverse
1932 Threepence Obverse 1932 Threepence Reverse

1933

1933 Threepence
Obverse Reverse
1933 Threepence Obverse 1933 Threepence Reverse

1934

1934 Threepence
Obverse Reverse
1934 Threepence Obverse 1934 Threepence Reverse

1935

1935 Threepence
Obverse Reverse
1935 Threepence Obverse 1935 Threepence Reverse

1936

1936 Threepence
Obverse Reverse
1936 Threepence Obverse 1936 Threepence Reverse
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