Material: Bronze (95 % Cu, 4 % Sn, 1 % Zn)
Diameter: 30.8 mm
Obverse: Bust of George V left; legend GEORGIVS V DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP.
Reverse: This authentic British pre-decimal copper-alloy coin features the classic reverse design originally sculpted by Leonard Charles Wyon. The central motif depicts Britannia, the female personification of the British Isles, wearing a plumed Corinthian helmet and flowing robes while gazing out toward the sea. Her right hand rests upon an oval Union Jack shield, while her left hand firmly holds a long trident as a symbol of naval supremacy. The denomination words ONE and PENNY are boldly split across the upper left and right perimeters. Positioned at the very base of the design is the crisp exergue displaying the mintage year 1912. A tiny, highly significant capital letter H is struck directly to the left of the date, indicating its specialized production origin away from the standard royal facilities.
Circa: 1912
Condition: Fine
Notes:
The 1912-H penny is one of the most famous and highly collected coins in British numismatic history because it represents the first time in the modern era that the Royal Mint outsourced penny production to a private contractor to meet soaring domestic demand. The tiny H mintmark signifies that this coin was struck by the Heaton Mint (The Birmingham Mint).