A colourful version of one of George VI’s last coins

The last circulating coin we wrote up from the UK got the “altered” tag, in that case because it had been carved. Today’s will as well, although the changes are more cosmetic.

The UK

This threepence was issued under George V. Son of Edward VII, George came to the throne on 6th May 1910, and ruled until his own passing on 20th January 1936. So, this piece was either issued in the last days of the King’s life, or posthumously that year. George V was succeeded by King Edward VIII. We’ve previously looked at a 1936 5 cent coin from British East Africa, one of very few circulating pieces to bear Edward VIII’s name. King Edward VIII abdicated on 11th December 1936, after just 326 days as monarch. All Commonwealth coins issued in 1937 were issued under King Geoge VI (Edward’s brother, and the father of Queen Elizabeth II).

Obverse

The obverse of the coin features the portrait of King George V, uncrowned, facing left. The inscription reads: “GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP:”. Unabridged, this is Latin: “Georgius V Dei Gratia Britanniarum Omnium Rex Fidei Defensor Indiae Imperator” which translates to “George the Fifth by the Grace of God King of all the Britons Defender of the Faith Emperor of India”.

The “fields” (the blank areas) have been painted blue.

Reverse

The reverse features “Three oak sprigs with three acorns, denomination above, date below”. One thing I quite like, is the design featuring “three” of something on a coin with a value of three. In fact, the sixpence of this issue continued that idea. Although it still had three oak sprigs, each had two branches – so six branches and six acorns on the sixpence.

The fields are painted white with the branches brown, leaves dark green and acorns light green.

Here is the painted threepence, next to a later issue threepence which has also been painted, and an unpainted sixpence.

The later threepence features a “St. George’s cross” in red and white, over a pink Tudor rose.

Also called “thruppence” or “threepenny bit”, the first threepence was issued by Edward VI in the 16th century. The design has sometimes been intricate, although from James II in 1685 through to the introduction of George VI’s oak sprigs design, the coin primarily features the number “3” (or in Roman Numerals “III” in the case of James II).

Coin painting

Enamelling and painting of coins became popular in Britain in the 1880’s. Enamel is a specific type of hard, glossy paint. Both “enamelled” and “painted” are sometimes used interchangeably regardless of the type of paint used on a particular coin. I’m not sure how common it is paint coins today. I found this artist who claims there are only ten people in the world involved in the hobby. I don’t know who painted the ones I have, but they do seem well done. It is important to note that while they seem pretty, there are downsides painting coins. Firstly, it will offend a lot of numismatists. Painting them will essentially destroy the original patina or look of the coin. Even arguing that it is a common coin and there are millions of them, who knows, maybe for some reason there won’t be in the future. There is also the legality. In some countries, as long as the intent isn’t fraudulent, altering coins such as painting or turning them into jewellery is allowed. In some countries, ANY alteration to currency is illegal. In 1992, the then Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, was interviewed by the Australian Federal Police over an incident in which he apparently signed his name on two $5 notes at an event.

While I don’t chase or organise for coins to be painted myself, I do think that any coin has a history to tell. While I do apologise to any numismatists cringing at those photos above, it does certainly add a different character to the pieces. If you like colourful coins, but don’t like to alter circulation coins, there are some coloured circulating coins. There are many more coloured non-circulation coins in various colours. And medallions and challenge or Geocache coins are often brightly coloured. Do you have a favourite altered coin (painted, enamelled or otherwise)? Do let us know, we’d love to see a picture!