FROM CENTS TO PENCE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Spot the difference?  On the cover above, the price is a pre-decimal British 10d, while below, it's the original American 12c.  However, as you can see, at the side of the horned, helmeted head of ATTUMA is a 10d stamp, although it's not the standard THORPE & PORTER one that usually graced U.S. comics sold in this country.

So why was the price on the covers altered to British currency when cents copies were stamped and sold alongside them?  Dunno for sure, but perhaps MARVEL only printed U.K. priced copies in limited numbers and supplemented them with stamped issues to meet a growing demand.  One day I'll have to go through my collection and see what other examples I have of this dual practice, but in the meantime, here's another one for you to consider... 

You'll notice that the second NOT BRAND ECHH cover doesn't bear the T&P stamp, but I assume it's just an oversight, as some comics occasionally slipped through the net (so to speak) without being 'defaced'.  I don't think British collectors would much care which version they'd get when tracking down a particular ish (unless it's to replace one they'd once had, in which case they'd probably want a perfect match to their original copy), but I'd imagine that American collectors would prefer the cents priced issues.  If any Stateside  readers would care to comment on their preference, the floor is yours. 

(Incidentally, regarding the title - 'pence' doesn't just refer to decimal coins, being - along with 'pennies' - the plural of 'penny' in old L.s.d. currency.)