Edward VIII coins are a series of coins from the United Kingdom and other territories of the British Empire that were produced in 1936 upon the accession of King Edward VIII. Because of his short reign of just 326 days and eventual abdication, many never entered circulation and remained only as pattern pieces.[1]
The exact number of Edward VIII coins in existence is unknown. The vast majority of the coins from the United Kingdom were melted down by the Royal Mint after the King's abdication. Many pattern issues are retained by the Royal Mint Museum, with other surviving coins purchased by private collectors.[2] In 2020, an Edward VIII sovereign sold at auction for £1 million, the most for a British coin.[3] On 26 March 2021, a five pound gold coin sold at auction for $2,280,000, surpassing the previous record.[4]