Teaching Coins

These were issued to, or used by, schools from 1843 onwards to help children learn £.s.d. (pounds, shillings and pence) and to generally assist in learning to count money.  From 1843 the coins were made in various metals - to match the currency - until the late 1800's.  Then cardboard was used and these resembled the coins actually in use.  This carried on until the late 1900's.

Running alongside the cardboard from about the 1970's is a vast series of decimal coins in plastic, only some of which are "educational" with most being issued, by many manufacturers, for games and toys.  [Plastic coins and tokens are also covered by a separate topic.]

TEACHING COINS IN METAL.
S. G. ONIONS.  "GET TO KNOW YOUR ONIONS"

S. G. Onions produced a series of coins in 1843 for educational purposes - for teaching in schools and at home.  It is an extremely rare series as most were lost by use and they are now over 160 years old.  There are 10 main denominations from "1 SOVEREIGN IS 1 POUND" down to "4 FARTHINGS MAKE 1 PENNY".  The portrait is always of the baby PRINCE ALBERT, PRINCE OF WALES (later King Edward VII) and each reverse has the correct number of dots for the denomination to help with counting.  For example, "12 PENCE MAKE 1 SHILLING" has 12 dots.  This is the coin most usually seen but is still rare.  All the other denominations are very rare indeed.  The coins range from only 11mm diameter to 17mm diameter.  A variety of metals were used but the base metal is usually either copper or brass.  The set was reputed to have been issued in a wire mesh bag but none seem to be known today.

TEACHING COINS IN CARDBOARD

Cardboard coins were issued to Schools as teaching and counting aids and for play purposes.  They were in production from late Victorian times until a few years ago.  The coins were the correct size, colour and denomination for the currency coins of the time of issue.  The issues for Queen Elizabeth II are still common but it is now very difficult to find some of these coins, especially of King George V (1910 - 1935) and before (Edward VII) as very few have survived the classrooms.  They were issued in cardboard boxes and these are now hard to find.

Of course, many other countries, including USA, also have a series of these educational coins for those who wish to expand their collections.

Illustrations:

Useful References and Links:

"Rogers" "Toy Coins" published in 1990.  Contact the printers for details.  Galata Print on 01691 648765.

"British Cardboard Coins from 1860" by David Evans published in 2004.  For more details contact the printers, Galata Print on 01691 648765.

David Magnay