Ultra-Rare NumismaticYear: 19331d (Pre-Decimal)

Sell 1933 George V Bronze Penny (Foundation Stone Issue)

Britain's rarest modern penny: only 7 known. Auction prices, weight/diameter specs, fake detection, and provenance checklist for the 1933 foundation-stone issue.

Circulated Market Guide

£72,000 – £127,248

Typical UK collector & dealer range for circulated examples

Uncirculated / Graded

£150,000+ for proof/specimen grades (MS63 Brown realised £193,875 inc. premium at Heritage 2016)

Mintage

7 (3-7 proof/specimen + foundation stone pieces; zero circulation)

Weight

9.4g

Composition

Bronze (95.5% Cu, 3% Sn, 1.5% Zn)

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Market Valuation & Pricing Notes

Only 7 confirmed specimens exist: 3 in museums (Royal Mint Museum, British Museum, University of London), 3 buried in foundation stones (BBC Broadcasting House, Senate House University of London, Church of St Cross Leeds — stolen 1970), 1-2 in private hands. Public auction realisations: £72,000 (Heritage 2020, circulated), £72,500 (Spink 2016), £127,248 (Baldwin's), $165,000/£193,875 inc. premium (Heritage 2016, MS63 Brown). Private treaty sales £83,000+. No circulation mintage; struck solely for ceremonial foundation deposits and proof presentation sets.

Physical Authentication Checkpoints

Our specialists verify these exact specifications when appraising your 1933 George V Bronze Penny (Foundation Stone Issue):

Weight: 9.4 g ± 0.1 g (48 to the pound avoirdupois / 145.8 grains)
Diameter: 31 mm (30.6 mm per RM spec); cast counterfeits typically 0.2–0.4 mm undersize
Edge: Plain, uniform; cast fakes show seam lines
Obverse: George V "small head" portrait by Bertram Mackennal (1926 modified effigy); verify bow knot ribbon and diadem detail under magnification
Reverse: Standard Britannia design (Peck 2279 / S-4055 / KM 838); date "3" digits must match 1932/1934 die typeface exactly
Date reworking check: Both "3"s must show no tooling marks under 10× loupe; altered 1932 (2→3) or 1936 (6→3) are common fakes
Surface: Original bronze patina expected; dipped/cleaned surfaces halve numismatic value
Third-party grading (PCGS, NGC, CGS UK) mandatory before any transaction

Coin Specifications

Catalogue ID: 1933-gv-bronze-penny-foundation
Denomination: 1d (Pre-Decimal)
Issue Year: 1933
Rarity Tier: Ultra-Rare Numismatic
Mintage: 7 (3-7 proof/specimen + foundation stone pieces; zero circulation)
Weight: 9.4 grams
Metal Composition: Bronze (95.5% Cu, 3% Sn, 1.5% Zn)

Common Fakes & Variant Confusion

Extensively counterfeited. Most common: (1) Date-altered 1932 pennies (2 re-engraved to 3) or 1936 pennies (6 re-engraved to 3) — tooling visible under magnification. (2) Cast copies from moulds — wrong weight (often 8.5–9.0 g), undersize diameter, visible seam lines on edge, soft detail. (3) Lavrillier pattern penny (4–6 struck, different obverse/reverse design) sometimes misrepresented as the standard issue. Any specimen offered without full provenance, auction pedigree, and slabbed certification is almost certainly fake.

Best Ways to Sell Your 1933 George V Bronze Penny (Foundation Stone Issue)

Compare liquidation routes in the UK, or sell directly to Finacforce with zero auction commission.

Major Specialist Auction (Spink, Baldwin's, Noonans, Heritage, London Coins)

Highest realised prices; global bidder pool; 30–100% premium over dealer offers. Requires 3–6 month consignment cycle; seller's commission 10–15% + insurance.

Private Treaty via Top-Tier Dealer (BNTA members, e.g. Sovereign Rarities, A.H. Baldwin)

Faster settlement (weeks); discreet; no public price disclosure. Typically 10–20% below hammer-equivalent value.

Museum/Institutional Acquisition

Occurs only when a specimen leaves private hands; price negotiated privately; may include tax advantages (Acceptance in Lieu). Not a reliable exit route.

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