I get them a lot, when I have four ,I exchange them for face value at the bank. Initially they were 5 Shillings which became 25 Pence on decimalisation 4 x 25 Pence = £1 Over 19 million struck
The Royal Mint manufactured 19.6 million of them and they gave one to every schoolchild. I remember the exact moment they announced Churchill died as I was only ten and visiting one of my father's friends and he asked me if I wanted a coffee. I had never been allowed coffee before and said yes please, and as the cup was being poured, a background radio programme was interrupted saying Churchill had died. In USA comparison terms it was a "Kennedy moment". Most people over here believe it was the ugliest coin that ever came out of the mint as it had no definition. I did not know you could exchange them. I didn't think you could even give them away. I've never heard of that. I still have mine as an age related souvenir in a draw somewhere but it does nothing for me except remind me that youth is wasted on the young..... Oh if I knew then what I know now!
@Dafydd You need a friendly PostMaster. My Post Office is also a bank. I used to advertise for coins and collections every now and then in two counties. I also used to get many doing house clearances too. I can exchange Shillings, Two Shillings, HalfCrowns, larger size 50 Pences and the old style £1 coins also older currency notes 10 Shillings and £1 notes plus the 5 Shilling Crowns from 1953 onwards. I bag them up into the correct amount and they send them to Cardiff and the Post Office give me face value. Anything else gets sold off in bulk, Sixpences go to people with vintage slots. Threepences go as scrap brass Pennies, Halfpennies, Farthings go as scrap copper. Obviously key dates, collectable and silver coins are kept.
I actually see a good number of them at coin shows here in the US. I like the coin but the low relief on Churchill's portrait could be improved. Bruce
I used to own two. I live in Kentucky, USA. So, they must have a ton of them or a high survival rate for me to be that lucky. I think I got both in poundage I purchased to search through.
