The Shape of British Money (was: Wizarding Money)

[Al]

No: HPFGUIDX 8784


> Okay, here's a rundown of British Money. If anyone knows a site with 
pretty
> pictures, yell :) Then send a link.
> 
> 1p: bronze, round, smooth edges, slightly larger than 1¢
> 2p: bronze, round, smooth edges, twice the size of 1¢ and thicker
> 5p: silver, round, ribbed (for lack of a better word!) edges, almost 
the
> size of a 10¢
> 10p: silver, round, ribbed, about the size of a 25¢
> 20p: silver, heptagonal (7 sides), smooth edges, slightly smaller 
and
> thinner than a 10¢ piece
> 50p: silver, heptagonal (7 sides), smooth edges, about the size of 
one of
> those new $1 coins but thicker
> £1: goldish (not real gold; does anyone know the metal?), round, 
ribbed
> edges, as thick as two 5¢ on top of each other and a bit larger
> £2: goldish center, silver outside, round, ribbed edges, about as 
thick as
> two 25¢ pieces, looks like a 10 French Franc piece on steroids.
> 
> --John

To which Al adds (as his first post here ... hey everybody!) I think 
£1 is standard cupro-nickel alloy, but am not sure, so don't quote me 
on that.
£2 has a silver middle and a gold outside, I don't know what coin 
you've been using! :-)  Urban legens has it that if you put a £2 coin 
in a pan of boiling water, the middle drops out ... I tried it and it 
is a lie!