Threepence, Circulating, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

Effigy of the ruling British monarch, legend (in Latin).

During the existence of the denomination, threepence coins were issued for:
- King George III (1817 - 1820)
- King William IV (1834 - 1837)
- Queen Victoria (1838 - 1901)
- King Edward VII (1902 - 1910)
- King George V (1911 - 1936)
- King George VI (1937 - 1952)
- Queen Elizabeth II (1953 - 1970)

The reverse went through several transformations during the existence of the denomination.

The first design (1817 - 1887) shows, within an open oak wreath, the numeral value 3 [pence]. Above the value, St Edward's Crown. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, it has been traditionally used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th century (with a two-century gap between 1689 and 1911). Divided by the value, the date of issue: [year].

Between 1817 and 1820 (during the reign of King George III), the date was on the obverse and part of the monarch's legend was on the reverse. The crown was re-designed in 1887.

The second design (1887 - 1926) is based on the first, which was re-touched when the Queen's effigy was also updated on the obverse; the most pronounced difference is in the shape of the crown, which is now rounded on top.

The third design (1927 - 1936), by George Kruger Gray, is a radical departure from the earlier heraldic coinage and features three sprigs of oak - intertwined and ending with three acorns. In the centre, there is a tiny letter G.

Around above, divided by one of the acorns, the value and denomination: THREE · · PENCE ·; around below, the date of issue: · [year] ·.

The fourth design (1937 - 1945), again by George Kruger Gray, shows the Shield of St George lying on a Tudor rose, dividing the date: [year].

Above, the rest of the monarch's legend: FID: DEF: IND: IMP: (Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India). Below, the value and denomination THREE · PENCE. Below the rose in small letters, the designer's initials K · G.

This was the final silver version of the denomination, after which it was changed to a twelve-sided nickel brass format.

The first twelve-sided design for the brass version (1937 - 1952) depicts a three-headed thrift plant (Allium porum, or wild leek). Around above, the value and denomination THREE PENCE; below, the date of issue: [year].

The second twelve-sided design for the brass version (1953 - 1970) depicts a a Tudor portcullis with chains and a coronet above. Below the portcullis in small letters, the artist's initials WG (for William Gardner). Around left and right, the value and denomination THREE PENCE; interrupting them below, the date of issue: [year].

See also Threepence Patterns.

Various British colonies, dominions and dependencies also issued their own versions of the threepence denomination, usually to be used in parallel with their Imperial counterpart and with compatible dimensions and composition but sometimes made deliberately different, e.g. with a central hole. For these, see:

- Ionian Islands, Thirty Lepta - issued 1834 to 1862, demonetised 1864
- British West Africa, Threepence - issued 1913 to 1957, demonetised 1968
- Australia, Threepence - issued 1910 to 1964, withdrawn 1966 (not demonetised)
- New Zealand, Threepence - issued 1933 to 1965, demonetised 1967
- New Guinea, Threepence - with central hole, issued 1935 and 1944, demonetised 1966
- Fiji, Threepence - 12-sided brass coin, issued 1947 to 1967, demonetised 1969
- Nigeria, Threepence - 12-sided brass coin, issued 1959 only, demonetised 1973