During the long reign of the House of Windsor, one year stands out as particularly eventful – 1936, which was a turbulent 12 months for the British Royal Family.

The British monarchy has one of the most prestigious royal bloodlines in the world. Through family dynasties and international wars, the crown has been worn by many kings and queens, but for over a century, it has been under the stewardship of the House of Windsor.

Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Britain was rocked by the death of its beloved king, George V, in January 1936, which prompted a year of change for the former House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Having undergone a change in name to Windsor in 1917 as a means of distancing themselves from their German heritage, the Windsor lineage immediately fell into difficulty with the accession of its second monarch, Edward VIII.

Born during the reign of Queen Victoria in 1894, Edward had served in the British Army during the First World War. Despite his popularity as a young, charming and charismatic monarch, his decision to wed the American divorcee Wallis Simpson caused outrage from key figures internationally, including prime ministers and the Church of England.

Despite his best efforts to resolve issues, it became apparent that the union would not be possible whilst Edward held the throne. As a result, on 11 December 1936, Edward VIII became the first and only British king to abdicate. He and Wallace Simpson tied the knot in 1937 and enjoyed a long marriage until Edward’s passing in 1972.

Edward VIII served as king for 326 days, which makes him one of the shortest-reigning kings in British history. The throne was passed to Edward’s younger brother Albert, who took the name George VI and reigned for just over 15 years, through the Second World War and beyond. In 1936, the British crown was shared by three men in a single year for only the second time in recorded history, the first being almost 1,000 years earlier in 1066 with the reigns of Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror.

Owing to the brevity of Edward VIII’s reign, The Royal Mint didn’t have the time to fulfil new circulating coinage for the UK during his reign. Mass production was set for January 1937, making coins produced under his rule a rare curio of British history.

Whilst an extremely limited number of UK coins were produced, which included a left-facing profile of the king due to Edward VIII’s preference for that side of his face, none were released into circulation. Examples of these coins do exist, but these rare specimens are kept at The Royal Mint Museum, the British Museum and the Royal Collection, with only a small number of samples held within private collections. British coins of Edward VIII’s reign have since sky-rocketed in value in the public marketplace and in 2021, a UK £5 coin featuring Edward VIII sold for over $2 million, making it the most expensive UK coin ever sold.

Outside of the UK, Edward VIII’s coinage did see the light of day internationally through coins produced in a small number of countries within the Commonwealth. One such coin was the British West Africa penny which features in our Year of Three Kings Set. As there is a hole in the middle of the coin, designed to be worn around the neck, it does not feature a portrait of the king. Nevertheless, these coins represent a rare glimpse into Edward VIII’s reign and a genuine curiosity of numismatic folklore.

A truly historic moment in time, 1936 presented a unique year for the Royal Family that has yet to be replicated since. In honour of this momentous period, we proudly present a unique three-coin set that includes a George V British penny, an Edward VIII British West Africa penny and a George VI British penny – a coin from each king that reigned during that pivotal year.

Own a piece of royal history with this numismatic tribute to a truly historic year. Each limited-edition set provides a window into the upheaval of 1936 and is a must-have for serious coin collectors and royal enthusiasts alike.