Only one British penny is believed to have been struck in 1952, and it was recently certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) as Proof-64 RB (Red Brown).
The unique piece was submitted for grading by Sovereign Rarities, a dealer based in London, England, and features an obverse portrait of George VI, who died in 1952.
The coin was when an abundance of pennies were already in circulation, something that continued until 1961. A decrease in the demand for British pennies began in the late 1940s and created a circulating surplus in the following decade as the threepence coin gained popularity and inflation dramatically reduced the penny’s purchasing power.
The Royal Mint redeemed surplus pennies from banks for melting starting in 1951, and by the end of the decade, about £1.2 million worth were removed from circulation.
Because of this, any 1950s British pennies are rare, but as the sole example of its date, the 1952 penny “is an extremely significant numismatic and historical artifact,” according to a statement issued by NGC.
“Its authentication and preservation are essential.”