World Coin Clinic: Die and Serial Numbering on 19th Century Coins
Die numbers, introduced on British coins in 1863, tracked production quality. Found on select 19th-century issues, they reveal minting flaws and rejected batches.
What was the purpose of die numbers on English 19th-century coins?
British Royal Mint Coining Department Superintendent John Graham began placing individual numbers on coinage dies in 1863. The numbering system was designed to monitor the quality of the coins, both by the production machine and its operator. The numbering system ended in 1879.
What was the outcome of using this die numbering system?
About 25% of the gold Sovereigns and around 45% of the gold half Sovereigns were determined to be substandard. There are some die numbers that won’t be found because the entire batch was rejected by quality assurance. The die numbering system was still being used on silver sixpences and shillings through 1879. It ironically ceased that year when British Royal Mint Resident Engraver Thomas Minton, who was responsible for punching the numbers into the dies, passed away.
On which British coins can I find these die numbers?
Die numbers appear on halfpennies of 1862, pennies of 1863, sixpences of 1864–1879, shillings of 1864–1879, florins of 1864–1878, half Sovereigns of 1863–1880, and Sovereigns of 1863–1874. The die numbers appearing on the 1880 half Sovereign were added by Minton before his death.
Do the British coin die numbers appear on the obverse or reverse of coins?
On the halfpenny, they appear left of the lighthouse on the reverse. It is below the date on the reverse of the penny and above the date on the reverse of the sixpence and shilling. On the florin, the die number is on the obverse near Victoria’s brooch under her bust, and under the reverse wreath on the half Sovereign and Sovereign. Die numbers do not appear on the 1871–1874 “St. George and the Dragon” reverse Sovereigns.
Has there ever been a coin on which a serial number appears?
Serial numbers appear on the obverse next to the date on the Czechoslovakia 1923 gold ducats. In 1969 (appearing as the date A.D. 1388), Fujairah issued a gold 200-rials coin with serial numbers on the obverse. Swaziland issued a serially numbered 15-emalangeni silver coin in 1974. This was followed in 1983 by Romania’s gold 500-lei proof coin, on which a serial number appears on the edge.