The 1933 Penny - The Legend of the 1933 Penny: the Real StoryThe 1933 Penny is one of the most talked about British coins of all time. Does it exist? Is there maybe only one in circulation? No-one knows for sure, but here is the real story behind the legendary coin.
Back in 1933 there were already tens of millions of pennies in circulation, both Edwardian and Victorian. The Royal Mint decided that they didn't need to add any new coins so decided not to mint any coins for circulation. But there was a secondary requirement to mint a few.
The convention at the time was to bury a complete set of coins under the foundation of new building of high importance. So six or seven coins were minted (there are no precise records), three went under buildings, and three are at the British Museum, the Royal Mint Museum, and the University of London. If a seventh was minted then its whereabouts are unknown. It may even have leaked into circulation, leading to much media speculation over the years.
The buildings were the Church of St Cross in Middleton (near Leeds), St Mary’s Church in Leeds, and the Bloomsbury buildings of the University of London. In 1970, the coins beneath Church of St Cross in Middleton were dug up and stolen. The Bishop of Ripon, probably worried that the coins under St Mary’s Church in Leeds would fall to a similar fate, had the coins removed and sold.
The 1933 story didn't end there. The George V pennies had a problem with 'ghosting' so the Royal Mint brought in French artist Andre Lavillier to engrave some new dies as a pattern for the next coins, with only minor design changes but different designers initials. There were four 1933 Pattern pennies minted, although the designs were never used for circulation. In 2016, auctioneers A H Baldwin and Sons sold one for £86,400 (£72,000 plus the buyer’s premium), doubling estimates, making it the most expensive bronze coin ever sold.
The 1933 Penny itself has on the obverse the George V 'small head' portrait (as it has a smaller portrait compared to previous coins), designed by Australian sculptor Bertram MacKennal. The Reverse shows Britannia seated, with Trident and shield.
SCBC 4055.Note that there are many counterfeit 1933 pennies around!
Image credit: The Royal Mint
Mintage: Rare
Minted at The Royal Mint
Minted in 1933
Monarch/Ruler: George V (1910-1936)
Category: Penny. See more Penny coins
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
List items on:
 | 1933 British George Penny George V mint rear aged copper restrike gap filler £ 21.50 |
 | 1933 British One Penny George V – mint aged copper restrike gap filler £ 21.50 |
 | HALF PENNY GEORGE V COIN CHOICE OF YEAR 1911 TO 1936 £ 2.09 |
 | GEORGE V 1933 BRONZE PENNY - ALTERED DATE £ 45.00 |
 | 1933 Cover with One Penny Stamp King George V Great Britain £ 2.37 |
 | 1933 AUSTRALIA One Penny Coin. Nice condition. £ 3.31 |
 | 1933 King George V Half Penny Coin – Britannia – UK Pre-Decimal £ 3.84 |
 | 1933-D Lincoln Wheat Cent ~ XF / EF Condition ~ COMBINED SHIPPING! £ 18.09 |
List items on: