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Monday 3 October 2011

Pennies from heaven...






A little piece of Guernsey history surfaced in the heart of York last weeknd when I found this silver threepenny piece for sale  in a city centre vintage shop.  The 1956  coin, with its unusual 12-sided scalloped edge, had been made into a necklace, presumably for visitors who liked to keep an eye on their money...
It features a Guernsey cow on one side and the three lions from the Royal Standard on the other - showing that  islanders are  still proud to be a part of Great Britain. Having done a bit of research I've discovered that these 'polygonal' coins were made of copper-nickel, 21mm in diameter and 1.5m thick - probably a different take on our own good old 'thrupenny bit.'



York Minster

While York sweltered in temperatures of 29 degrees, the visitors arrived in their hundreds from France, Germany, Japan and America - many keen to see the ongoing restoration of the magnificent York Minster.

Talking of France, I discovered that York is twinned with Dijon, in the Burgundy region  to the South-east of Paris,  which is famous, of course, for making mustard.  I bet it aint 'arf  hot  over there...





4 comments:

Elaineyross said...

I still have a couple of these coins lurking in a jar somewhere amongst a selection of farthings, sixpences and other such obsolete currency. Although they won't buy much these days, they are still attractive and have a certain charm don't they?

Guernsey Girl said...

Never mind the charm - get them out girl and stick them on a silver chain. Vintage shops eat your heart out...

anotherguernseygirl said...

We were in York briefly last wed on our way back to Sussex after holidaying in Whitby in north Yorkshire-we had looked in many vintage shop windows on our travels and had seen many charming things -but not a guernsey thrupeny bit in sight ah well .

Guernsey Girl said...

Sorry - I beat you to it!