The Similar Sixpence Scandal of 1887

Summary

In 1887, a significant scandal rocked Britain involving the minting of British coins. The new silver sixpence, produced for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, closely resembled the golden half sovereign in design and size. Unscrupulous individuals began painting the sixpence gold and passing it off as a half sovereign, leading to widespread counterfeit coins circulating. The government acted quickly to withdraw the counterfeit coins and issue a revised design with 'sixpence' clearly marked. This scandal, known as the Similar Sixpence Scandal of 1887, remains one of the most controversial episodes in British coinage history.

Takeaways

• 😀 1887 was an eventful year in Britain, marked by significant events like the release of the first Sherlock Holmes double and the Similar Sixpence Scandal.
• 😀 The British coins of 1887 did not usually feature their denominations and were identified by their size and distinct design traits.
• 😀 1887 saw the production of new coinage for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, including a new effigy of the queen and updated reverse designs.
• 😀 The silver sixpence coin from the new 1887 coinage had a design almost identical to that of the golden half sovereign, leading to confusion.
• 😀 Both the silver sixpence and the half sovereign had the same jubilee portrait on the obverse and a heraldic shield on the reverse, making them easily confused.
• 😀 The silver sixpence was also the same size as the half sovereign, further enabling unscrupulous individuals to pass them off as gold coins.
• 😀 Counterfeiters began painting the sixpence coins gold and passing them off as half sovereigns, leading to a major circulation of fake coins.
• 😀 This situation caused significant concern for the government as fake half sovereigns were circulating widely and sixpences could easily be counterfeited for higher value.
• 😀 The Royal Mint quickly realized the error and withdrew as many sixpences as possible from circulation, recalling all shield-type designs.
• 😀 A new design for the sixpence was issued, featuring the word 'sixpence' written on it, a design decision that could have been implemented from the start.
• 😀 Despite the scandal and the withdrawal of the shield-type sixpences, all three related coins — the withdrawn sixpence, the golden half sovereign, and the replacement sixpence — remain popular among collectors.

Q & A

What was the significance of 1887 in British coinage?

1887 was a significant year in British coinage because it marked the release of new coinage for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and it was also the year when the Similar Sixpence Scandal occurred.

Why did British coins in 1887 not feature their denominations?

Most British coins did not feature their denominations because they were usually identified by their size and distinct design traits, rather than by a numerical value.

What was the design change made in the 1887 coinage for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee?

The new coinage for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee featured a new effigy of the Queen on the obverse, and revamp designs for the reverse of the coins, including the silver sixpence.

What error occurred with the design of the 1887 silver sixpence?

The error with the 1887 silver sixpence was that its reverse design was almost identical to the golden half sovereign, both featuring the new jubilee portrait and a heraldic shield, making them indistinguishable to the naked eye.

What was the consequence of the design similarity between the sixpence and the half sovereign?

The design similarity between the sixpence and the half sovereign led to unscrupulous individuals painting sixpences gold and passing them off as half sovereigns, causing fake half sovereigns to flood circulation and creating a counterfeit problem.

How did the government respond to the counterfeit problem caused by the sixpence?

The government responded by recalling as many sixpences as possible and withdrawing the shield-type design. They then issued a new design with the word 'sixpence' written on it to distinguish it from the half sovereign.

What was the impact of the Similar Sixpence Scandal on British coinage?

The Similar Sixpence Scandal of 1887 became one of the most controversial incidents in British coinage history, as it led to a large number of counterfeit half sovereigns circulating and the mint taking corrective action.

How did the withdrawn sixpence, the golden half sovereign, and the replacement sixpence become valued over time?

Despite the scandal, all three coins—the withdrawn sixpence, the golden half sovereign, and the replacement sixpence—have remained popular and highly valued by collectors to this day.

Why was the decision to include 'sixpence' on the replacement design important?

Including 'sixpence' on the replacement design was important because it clearly distinguished the sixpence from the half sovereign, preventing further confusion and counterfeiting.

What was the lasting effect of the Similar Sixpence Scandal on British coinage design?

The lasting effect of the Similar Sixpence Scandal on British coinage design was a shift towards more distinctive and easily identifiable designs to avoid confusion and counterfeiting in the future.