Introduction
The George VI Threepence was struck from 1937 to 1952 in two parallel formats — a twelve-sided nickel-brass piece for general circulation and a small round silver threepence for the final years of that traditional type. This page provides an overview of the George VI Threepence series, including the silver and nickel-brass coinages, wartime varieties, West Indies issues, and year-by-year reference images.
The introduction of the nickel-brass dodecagonal threepence in 1937 was partly a practical measure: London Transport alone was handling more than 600 tons of bronze small change annually, and the new brass threepence — lighter and more distinctive in shape — was intended to ease that burden. It ran in parallel with the silver threepence until 1941, when the silver issue ceased for domestic circulation.
- Silver Threepence (1937–1941) – Round, .500 silver, struck for domestic circulation; 1937 Reverse A (I of IMP at a bead) replaced by Reverse B (I of IMP between beads) from 1938 onward.
- Silver Threepence for Export (1942–1944) – Struck in small quantities for the West Indies; scarce in high grade and collectable in their own right. A 1945 issue was struck but almost entirely melted, with only a single known survivor.
- Nickel-Brass Threepence (1937–1952) – Twelve-sided, struck annually with the portcullis reverse by George Kruger Gray; notable wartime varieties include sharp and round-cornered types from 1941 and 1948.
Coinage Details
Silver Reverse Variety (1937) — The 1937 silver threepence is the only year to use Reverse A, where the I of IMP points directly at a bead. From 1938, Reverse B — with the I of IMP pointing between beads — was used exclusively. A 1937 Reverse B coin is recorded by Davies as unconfirmed; it remains one of the tantalising elusive pieces of the series.
Sharp and Round Corners (1941 and 1948) — The wartime shortage of high-quality steel led the Mint to modify the collars used to produce the dodecagonal threepence partway through the 1941 run. Rounded corners proved easier on the dies than sharp corners, and so both types exist for 1941, with sharp corners being the commoner variety. Production of sharp-cornered coins resumed partway through the 1948 run; the sharp-cornered 1948 is considerably scarcer than its round-cornered counterpart. Both varieties have also been noted for 1949.
Scarce Dates — The 1946 nickel-brass threepence is notably scarce in high grade; Mint records cited by Peck indicate that seven-eighths of the threepences struck that year were dated 1945. A similar pattern affects 1949, where the majority of production used 1948 dies, and a significant portion was distributed to the Commonwealth rather than released domestically.
George VI Threepences
1937 Silver
1937 Nickel-Brass
1938 Silver
1938 Nickel-Brass
1939 Silver
1939 Nickel-Brass
1940 Silver
1940 Nickel-Brass
1941 Silver
1941 Nickel-Brass
1942 Silver
1942 Nickel-Brass
1943 Silver
1943 Nickel-Brass
1944 Silver
1944 Nickel-Brass
1945
1946
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
Specifications
| Years Issued |
1937–1952 |
| Diameter |
- Nickel-brass: 21.8 mm
- Silver: 16 mm
|
| Weight |
- Nickel-brass: 6.8 g
- Silver: 1.4 g
|
| Shape |
- Nickel-brass: 12-sided (dodecagonal)
- Silver: Round
|
| Edge |
Plain |
| Alloy |
- Nickel-brass: Cu 79% Zn 20% Ni 1%
- Silver: Ag 50% Cu 40% Ni 5% Zn 5%
|
| Obverse Designer |
Thomas Humphrey Paget |
| Reverse Designer |
George Kruger Gray |
|
George VI Threepence Specifications
|
|
Nickel-brass threepence
|
Silver threepence
|
- Diameter: 22mm
- Weight: 6.8g
- Alloy: Cu 79%, Zn 20%, Ni 1%
|
- Diameter: 16mm
- Weight: 1.4g
- Alloy: Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 5%, Zn 5%
|
|
|
I always think that the George VI nickel brass threepence is rather an under-appreciated series.
There's plenty of interest and variation in scarcity. There are varieties, yes, and some have fascinating historical context to do with the loss of the Malay tin mines to the Japanese during the war, and even a few Proofs if you like Proofs.
The relative scarcity of 1946 and 1949 is obvious in the histogram, but also note the 1950 and 1951, and the little peak around 1939. It's an interesting series!
And I think they're ever so pretty in top grade.
|
References
Attributions and variety identifications for the George V Halfcrown series are based principally on the standard published references listed below.
These works form the core framework for catalogue numbering, die classification, and comparative study.
- Coins of England and the United Kingdom
- ESC – English Silver Coinage
- Bull – English Silver Coinage since 1649
- Davies – British Silver Coins since 1816
