Contents:
The Uncrowned King, Edward VIII, King Edward VIII Coins are not just rare specimens, but also coins that encapsulate an important period of British history. Many numismatists are constantly trying to find them in the Online Coin Identifier to find out their value.
Who Was King Edward VIII
The death of George V., January 20, 1936. This very day was marked by King Edward VIII, the son of George V, ascending to the British throne. His reign turned out to be one of the shortest in British history. It lasted only 326 days.
Edward caused concern among politicians; he was freedom-loving and did not adhere to conventional views. However, the reason for his abdication was not he himself, but the American Wallis Simpson. It was for her sake that he decided to abdicate the throne in order to marry her.
The British government, the church, and the general public were negatively disposed toward his decision, as this American woman had already been married twice before, and the Church of England prohibited such situations. And this is exactly what forced Edward VIII to abdicate.
Between power and love, he chose love. His brothers tried to talk him out of this decision, but Edward was adamant. A constitutional crisis ensued, and overall, this decision became the only one of its kind in the entire history of modern British coins. He received the title of Duke after the abdication, and the decision itself placed the country in a dangerous position.
And it was exactly the Edward VIII Gold Coin that became a witness to such an event. That is why these are quite valuable and interesting coins for numismatists among all British coins.
Coins of Edward VIII Explained
In reality, there are no actual Edward VIII coins for sale, as they were never released into circulation. There are no official circulating specimens from that time. They did not participate in regular striking.
All existing specimens were only Pattern Coins or Trial Strikes, which were made by the mint to approve the design before the start of coining.
Design
The obverse traditionally depicts the portrait of the reigning monarch, that is, Edward VIII. The most interesting fact is that his portrait faces left. This is a violation of the tradition of alternating the direction of monarchs' portraits.
He was supposed to face right. And this is truly unusual and emphasizes the strangeness of Edward VIII's reign. The design was created by Thomas Humphrey Paget.
Denominations
King Edward Coin is made of gold. It was a pound, a half-sovereign, and a 5-pound coin.
As for the silver coins, they were half-crowns, shillings, 6 pence, and florins.
Copper specimens included pennies, half-pennies, and farthings.
Why Edward VIII Coins Are So Rare
First and foremost, it is, of course, the abdication. Despite the fact that we are talking about King Edward VIII Coin Value here, the historical context in which this specimen was made plays a very significant role, and it is precisely the abdication of King Edward VIII that adds such rarity and value to this specimen. Cessation of production.
Ceased Work
When it became known that Edward would abdicate, the Royal Mint ceased work on specimens with his portrait. As a result, mass coining never began, meaning there is no regular strike in the usual sense, and all coins are quite rare, yet they were never in circulation. This is truly unique from a numismatic perspective.
Limited Number
Thus, only a limited number of samples managed to reach the public and be sold. This is precisely what makes them rare. Destruction of samples. In moments when mass production is canceled, the specimens are destroyed, melted down, and other samples are made.
Destroyed Samples
And given that coining never began, the samples were destroyed. A few specimens still made it to us and are available for acquisition. And this is precisely what makes them valuable.
Edward VIII Coins Value
If you want to buy Edward VIII coins, you should prepare your budget thoroughly. Because due to their extreme rarity and historical characteristics, these specimens are worth a great deal of money.
Here, of course, the state of preservation and who owned them will also play a role. This is quite important. Before purchasing, it is necessary to check the documentation and the ownership history of the specimen. This can add value for a subsequent resale, if you are planning one.
Authenticating Edward VIII Coins
Given the rarity and uniqueness of this issue, it is important to be very careful with the authentication of these specimens. First and foremost, it is best to turn to trusted professional dealers with verified certificates or to global auction houses.
You can buy coins of Edward VIII with contact grading services, such as PCGS or NGC, for example. They will help you correctly evaluate the specimen. If you want to do this yourself, you need to take the prospective specimen and compare it thoroughly with official photographs of these coins.
Facebook 
X (Twitter) 
Pinterest 
LinkedIn 
