This page lists the rarest varieties of bronze currency pennies, reflecting current knowledge of rarity accumulated from the published books by Michael Freeman, Michael Gouby and John Jerrams, together with input from penny collectors and auction houses.
I have also included a page of “Scarce pennies”, varieties which have not been formally recorded as “Rare” but which prove to be difficult to find on the open market.
The rare coins are listed in date of issue order (most recent first) within category of rarity, starting with the rarest category.
1 – Potentially Unique varieties (Freeman R20; Gouby PU)
1954 F247 (Gouby D+b; Freeman 2+C)
1953 F243A (Gouby A+a; Freeman 1*+A) toothed obverse & reverse
1953 – BP1953N (Gouby B+x [reverse with neither beads nor teeth])
1952 (Gouby B+c; Freeman 3+C)
1926 Unrecorded Mule (Gouby D+d; Freeman 4+C)
1926 Unrecorded obverse Gouby D/Freeman 4; pattern “hybrid” reverse
1922 Unrecorded Pattern/Trial/Mule (Gouby D+d; Freeman 4+C)
1920 F189 (Gouby C+b; Freeman 3+D)
1919KN Unrecorded (Gouby B+b; Freeman 2+B) struck in cupro-nickel
1897 BP1897H (Gouby V+w) struck on a heavy flan
1885 Unrecorded Mule (Gouby R+m; Freeman 12+N) with large date
1861 Unrecorded (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) missing colon dots after F:D [Satin 36A]
1861 F19 (Gouby D+f; Freeman 2+F)
1861 BP1861AA (Gouby D+d; Freeman 2+D) with 8 over 6 in the date
Unrecorded 1860 (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) ?
2 – Varieties with 2-5 existing specimens (Freeman R19)
1966 BP1966J (Gouby J+d) – Mule with Jersey obverse
1953 BP1953L/R (Gouby C*+a) – pattern obverse/toothed reverse
1953 Unrecorded Matt proof (Gouby C+b; Freeman 1+B)
1953 Unrecorded Matt proof (Gouby B+b; Freeman 1+B)
1937 F216 (Edward VIII)
1881H F103 (Gouby M+p; Freeman 9+M)
1874H F66 (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) 3 extra plumes
1870 Unrecorded (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) “Dot”
1863 BP1863G (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) slender 3 in date figures
1863 BP1863F (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) die no. 5 below the date
1863 F46 (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) die no. 3 below the date (probably R18)
1862 Unrecorded (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) VIGTORIA (C over/under G)
1862 BP1862B Mule (Gouby E+g; Freeman 3+G)
1861 F27 (Gouby H+f; Freeman 5+F)
1861 BP1861G (Gouby G+d)
1861 BP1861FA (Gouby F+g) R over B in REG
BP1860NA (Gouby F+d; Freeman 4+D) E over P in PENNY
1860 Unrecorded (Gouby G+d) with I over T in BRITT
1860 F8D (Gouby B+c; Freeman 1*+C)
1860 F8A (Gouby B+a; Freeman 1*+A)
1860 F8B (Gouby B+b; Freeman 1*+B)
1860 BP1860B1 (Gouby A+c; Freeman 1**+C) [Satin 2]
3 – Varieties with 6-15 existing specimens (Freeman R18)
1934 Unrecorded (Gouby E+d; Freeman 5+C) missing waves on Britannia’s left (probably more common)
1933 F209
1922 F192A (Gouby C+c; Freeman 3+C)
1875 BP1875Ce (Gouby L+k; Freeman 8+J) raised dot to right of ship – “cannon ball”
1874H F76 (Gouby K+h; Freeman 7+I)
1863 BP1863AA (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) with 3 over 1 in date
1863 F45 (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) die no. 2 below date
1862 BP1862G (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) 2 over 1 in date
1862 BP1862F (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) 3 extra plumes to Britannia’s helmet
1862 BP1862H (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) B over R in BRITT
1862 F39A (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) 8 over 6 in date (rarer end of R17)
1861 F33A (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) 8 over 6 in date
1861 F28 (Gouby H+g; Freeman 5+G)
1861 F21 (Gouby E+d; Freeman 3+D)
1860 BP1860X (Gouby H+d; Freeman 5+D) ONF PENNY
1860 F8 Mule (Gouby C+d; Freeman 1+D)
1860 D*+d (newly discovered – maybe more common)
4 – Varieties with 16-50 existing specimens (Freeman R17)
1882 F112 (Gouby P+r; Freeman 11+N)
1862 F41 (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) small date figures (R17, maybe even R16)
1861 F24 (Gouby F+f; Freeman 4+F)
1860 F9 Mule (Gouby D+b; Freeman 2+B)
5 – Varieties with 51-100 existing specimens (Freeman R16)
1874H F69 (Gouby J+h; Freeman 6+I)
1861 F32 (Gouby J+f; Freeman 6+F) (probably R17)
and not included on this website:
6 – Varieties with 101-250 existing specimens (Freeman R15)
1860 F14 (Gouby E+e; Freeman 3+E) – LCW below foot
1860 F7 (Gouby C+c; Freeman 1+C)
7 – Varieties with 251-500 existing specimens (Freeman R14)
1881 F106 (Gouby P+k; Freeman11+J) (probably rarer)
1874 F77 (Gouby L+g; Freeman 8+G) (probably rarer)