20th Century British Political Commemoratives
Decimalisation of Currency.
Soon after Napoleon copied the Russian system of 100 Kopeks making a Rouble, there began a campaign for decimalisation in Britain. Introducing a coin for one tenth of a pound was the first step in 1849 (2 shillings or a florin.). On February 15th 1971, with the help of a Max Bygraves song, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCiEzQ4EGk4 ) the currency changeover was made. This mug is printed with a conversion table.
Common Market, EEC, EC, EU.
A Spode Limited Edition of 500 loving cup and a Portmeirion mug made for the UK joining the EEC in 1973. Joining at the same time were Denmark and the Republic of Ireland. The newcomers played the existing members in a football match at Wembley billed as "The Three versus The Six". (I am sure you will want to know that Denmark's Henning Jensen and England's Colin Bell made it 2-0 to "the Three". Some may say that that was as good as it got!).
Margaret Thatcher.
A pair of mugs made in the period 1980 to 1983 when Michael Foot was leader of the opposition to Margaret Thatcher's government. The mark on the base is Brynsiencyn Anglesey. The caricatures are reminiscent of pottery items designed by Fluck and Law of "Spitting Image" fame which first appeared in 1984.
French Presidents of the Third Empire.
There are similar plates for various french celebrities.