I have 2 coins, both very similar. One is 1984, the other is 1974. They Both Feature Elizabeth II on the Obverse and some sort of picture with a crown and chains on the reverse. These are identical (other than very small differences on Elizabeth II) except that one is labeled "ONE PENNY" and the other "NEW PENNY." Does anybody know the history on that? Obviously sometime between 1974 and 1984, they changed the name of the penny. But I'm curious why. I can't find it anywhere. Wikipedia just says that they switched from "NEW" to "ONE" in '81. Just curious if anybody knows
"new pennies" were made in the 70s when britain ceased their old system and went to decimalization. that happened in 1971 and the pennies say "new penny" to state this change. in 1982, they changed back to "one penny," but it's still the same face value as a "new penny."
Yep, the first change (from the "old" penny to the new penny) was much more significant. After all, the value of the pound sterling did not change in 1971 - but since £1 was now equal to 100 (new) pence, instead of 240 "old" pence, one new/decimal penny was worth more than a pre-decimal penny. The new on all decimal coins up to the 50 pence piece emphasizes that. Ten years later however it did not make much sense any more to call them "new" ... Christian
