In the 19th century, the United Kingdom introduced the world’s first postage stamps. Before this, postal rates were varied and confusing. The introduction of stamps helped simplify things by establishing uniform rates and prepayment. The Penny Black is renowned as the first-ever adhesive postage stamp. Now, you can own a piece of this history with the 2024 1 oz Proof Gibraltar Silver One Crown Penny Red Coins, available online from BullionMax.

Coin Highlights:

• Coins arrive inside presentation boxes with a Certificate of Authenticity!
• Replicates the Penny Red stamp!
• Proof specimen!
• Limited mintage of only 1,000 coins!
• Contains 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver.
• Issued a value of One Crown.
• King Charles III on the obverse.
• Queen Victoria in the Penny Red stamp design on the reverse.

The creation of postage stamps in the UK was part of a postal reform led by Rowland Hill in the late 1830s. Hill proposed a uniform penny postage rate and prepayment using adhesive stamps. The first stamp, the Penny Black, was released on May 1, 1840, but was quickly replaced by the Penny Red.

The primary reason for replacing the Penny Black with the Penny Red was to improve the visibility of cancellation marks. The black ink used for cancellations on the Penny Black was easily removed, allowing stamp reuse. Red stamps made the black cancellation marks much more visible.

The obverse of the 2024 1 oz Proof Silver One Crown Penny Red Coins features King Charles III. His Majesty is shown in a left-profile relief, following British tradition of alternating the direction of the monarch’s portrait with each reign. As Queen Elizabeth II was shown in right-profile, Charles III is depicted in left-profile relief.

On the reverse, you will find a replication of the Penny Red stamp. This stamp design, introduced in 1841, mirrors the earlier Penny Black. It features Queen Victoria in left-profile relief, with inscriptions of POSTAGE and ONE PENNY, just like the original stamp.

These 2024 1 oz Proof Gibraltar Silver One Crown Penny Red Coins come in presentation boxes and include a Certificate of Authenticity. The coins have proof visuals with frosted designs and mirrored backgrounds. The reverse background is red, echoing the Penny Red stamp.

For assistance when you buy silver bullion, BullionMax customer service is available at 800-729-3202. You can also chat with us online or send us an email directly.