[Bell Historians] Silver coins

[Bryan McCahey]

David's comments about Cyril Johnston and the sixpences is borne out by an anecdote I heard from Ellen Parker, one-time tower-captain at Halsall, Lancs. Halsall bell s were recast by G&J in 1931. Ellen, then a young girl (the tower-captain's daughter) remembered a sixpence being thrown into the mould when the church party was present at the casting of one of the bells.

Bryan McCahey




________________________________
From: David Cawley <davidl.cawley at x1730Anmc-OhDj4dDxD-QtYciWnbRkR2d69uym047HHZQEM6ZlAq_scZmjqev3t9ws9eQXUl5B5fhKrGW9BVcETX5w.yahoo.invalid>
To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, December 8, 2009 6:59:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Bell Historians] Silver coins

   
So far as silver is concerned, the last British 
circulation coins to be minted in .925 (Sterling) silver were struck at The 
Royal Mint in the early months of 1920. The price of silver as at the time 
greater than the intrinsic value of each piece, and a Currency Act was rushed 
through allowing the circulating silver coinage thenceforward to be struck in 
50/50 Silver and a copper-nickwel alloy. Shortly afterwards the price of silver 
fell as spectacularly as it had risen, but the Sterling standard was never again 
used for circulating coins. The banks gradually withdrew the Sterling silver in 
circulation, which exaplains why people of Rod's age (and mine) seldom found 
silver coins dating from before the reign of George V; bronze was common, dated 
as far back as 1860. 
 
He is quite correct about florins (2/-, two 
shillings, 24 old pence, 10 new pence). Indeed, they were legal tender 
until July 1993 when the smaller sized 10p coin superseded them, as had happened 
with the shilling (5p) in 1990, and the sixpence (2.5p) in 1980 and the 
halfcrown (2/6, 12.5p) as far back as 1970.
 
But there are two survivors of the old coinage, 
though hardly "currency coins". One is every surviving Crown struck between 
1816 and 1980. The face value was 5/- (25p) and they remain legal 
tender. After 1901 they were scarceley struck as regular circulating coins, 
more as souvenirs. Identical size crowns dated after 1980 have a face value 
of £5. The other survivor is Rod's 3d, i.e. the silver threepence of Christmas 
Pudding fame. The last issue was 1944 (a wonderful year for births :) The size, 
weight and composition of these tiny coins is identical to that of the Maundy 3d 
/ 3P coin of the respective year. When the Decmial Currency Act was passed, it 
allowed for the 3d coin to be revalued at 3P, as percentage increase which must 
be unrivalled in British numismatic history!
 
To revert to Bells. Cyril Johnston used to carry a 
sixpence or two in his pocket, and was wont on his most prestigious and often 
"star-studded" casts to hand such a coin to the celebrity with instructions 
to throw it into the ladle, while he exclaimed "Bang goes sixpence" - often 
faithfully recorded in the Press coverage of the article. 
  
 
DLC
 
----- Original Message ----- 
>From: Bickerton, Roderic (SELEX 
>  GALILEO, UK) 
>To: bellhistorians@ yahoogroups. com 
>Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 3:08 
>  PM
>Subject: RE: [Bell Historians] FW: HAVE a 
>  bell from the 1700s (selling)would like to k...
>
>  
>Wasn't the last legal tender silver coin a 3D?
>If so you would need about 5 million of them to pay for an 
>  average rehang.
>When I was young, late 1950's there were still a few in 
>  circulation, and possibly florins (10P) as well.
> 
>I do not work Wednesday Thursday or Friday.
>Please forward 
>  to rodbic at ntlworld. com as well 
>  as my work email if you want me to see it on these days. Do not send anything 
>  classified to rodbic at ntlworld. com  
> 
>
>
________________________________
 From: bellhistorians@ yahoogroups. com 
>  [mailto:bellhistori ans at yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Anne 
>  Willis
>Sent: 08 December 2009 14:59
>To: >  bellhistorians@ yahoogroups. com
>Subject: RE: [Bell 
>  Historians] FW: HAVE a bell from the 1700s (selling)would like to 
>  k...
>
>
>                    *** WARNING ***
>
> This message has originated outside your organisation, 
>  either from an external partner or the Global Internet. 
>      Keep this in mind if you answer this message.
>
>  
>  
>In a message dated 
>  08/12/2009 14:50:34 GMT Standard Time, 
>  Roderic.Bickerton@ selexgalileo. com 
>  writes:
>Are you judging 
>>    C18 practice to be in line with today's norms in 
>>    your
>>business?
>Sadly - I have never 
>  been offered silver!
>Matthew 
>  :-)
>I’ll pay my next bill 
>  in ‘silver’ if you like!
>Anne
>SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems Limited
>Registered Office: Sigma House, Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, Essex SS14 3EL
>A company registered in England & Wales.  Company no. 02426132
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