Thrupence for your thoughts

[Resurgam]

                                 Whilst presently practising with the Safari and having put the EuroAce on the back burner; I was contemplating my finds over the last couple of years and was surprised at how many thrupenny bits I had in my finds boxes. I have recovered six off one permission and seven off my regular beach. The permission bits consist of five George VI and one Elizabeth II. The beach bits consist of six George VI and one Elizabeth II.

                                 With the higher ratio of George VI to Elizabeth II bits; I got to wondering why this may be and if there are any special thupenny bits that we should keep an eye open for? And No; I don't live in London! 

[Mike]

1946 , 1949 are the less common ones

[Resurgam]

                                 Thanks Mike; I see that a lower number of thrupenny bits were minted in those years but I was wondering if there are any special ones with mint flaws etc. ( faults ) 

[Dale]

                                 Thanks Mike; I see that a lower number of thrupenny bits were minted in those years but I was wondering if there are any special ones with mint flaws etc. ( faults ) 

A special one will be a 1937 Edward VIII but it may be easier to win the lottery

[probono]

Tbh, unless they are in minty condition, they're still worth less than their face value.

They give such junky signals too (i.e they come up in the junk section).

I find quite a lot (or used to ) on my permission - mostly dated to the war.

[Resurgam]

                                         Strange, that! Eleven of mine are George Vi with only two being Elizabeth II, and  that got me to wondering why that was? Were there more minted under George VI; thus more were possibly lost? Or was it due  to the George VI bits being in circulation for longer and consequently more opportunity for losses. Maybe more were recalled for scrap during the reign oif Elizabeth?

                                         If I had a coin with a blossom missing from the thrift plant, or a bar missing from the portculis, would that then make it valuable to collectors regardless of condition?  
 
ps. Found this article on "Three Penny Bits" rather interesting.  www.brushwood.mintrasystems.com/cn4-brassthreepence.pdf

[Val Beechey]

That was an interesting read Chris.  They were so instantly recognisable I for one hadn't taken much notice of them. I've just had a look at what I could find and I have 7 Georges and 1 Elizabeth. Be nice to find one of the early ones though.

Val

[Resurgam]

Hi Val,
            I'm just cleaning up my thirteen bits ready to double check the dates and I'm pretty sure that we have got an other eight or so knocking around at the back of one of our drawers; predecimal leftovers. After reading that article about  "three penny bits" i'm wondering if I will be able to build up a full collection of general issue bits.

            When I was a child and ran errands for an old lady who lived in the terraced  house at the end of our road she would give me thrupenny bit as a reward. An old man who lived next door but one to us ( a widower ) saved thrupenny bits from his change and at christmas he would share them out amongst the local children. I had forgotten all about those folks until I started this thread. It's amazing what a thrupenny bit can do! 

           If I am to get a full set of the general issue three penny bits I may have to start looking for awaps!