Monarch: Edward VI 1547 - 1553 or Elizabeth I 1558 - 1603 or William III 1694 - 1702 or George II 1727 - 1760 or George III 1760 - 1820 or Victoria 1837 - 1901 or Elizabeth II 1952 - 2022
Edward VI (1547-53) inherited a low-quality, debased coinage from his father Henry VIII (1509-1547). In 1551, Edward revoked his father’s policy of debasing coinage – as low as 25% fineness - and increased it back to 0.929 Fineness, slightly higher than Sterling. This is why this period was known as the Fine Silver Issue (1551-1553). The coins we are offering are well circulated and have been flattened and polished for use as gaming counters, possibly in Victorian times. These fine silver shillings feature the bust of the “Boy King” on the obverse with Tudor rose to the right, the reverse has a Quartered shield of arms over a long cross fourchée, the legend reading “I have made God my Helper” in Latin. Most were struck in London with the Tun (barrel) mintmark, and others were struck at York and have the mintmark “Y”, We only have a limited number of these Shillings available, they are in Very Good grade, and are at least 470 years old - some of the earliest silver shillings issued in Britain.
When Elizabeth took the throne in 1558, much of the country’s coinage was in a poor state after her father, Henry VIII’s debasement of silver coins. It was Elizabeth’s intention to raise the quality of the country’s coinage back up to Sterling quality, and in 1560, the Tower mint began striking her Fine Silver coins. They feature Elizabeth facing left on the obverse and cross over a shield on the reverse, they were struck between 1560 and 1602 and are getting very expensive in higher grades. For the first time in 13 years, we’re able to offer you Elizabeth I’s Fine Silver shillings, they are graded Fair as these were heavily circulated for about a century and are now up to 463 years old.
Most people think that the last pre-decimal coins struck for circulation were dated 1967, they would only be partly right. In fact most pre-decimal coins were last struck in 1967, that is except for the Shilling. The last Shilling struck for circulation was in 1966, they did not make any in 1967. They issued two different types of 1966 Shillings, the English reverse and the Scottish reverse. The coin on offer this issue is the Scottish 1966 Shilling in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. As the Shilling had a direct decimal equivalent they felt that they had enough of this denomination to fill all their needs at the time. We are offering you a pair (2 pieces) of the 1966 Scottish Shilling in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. Why two pieces? So you can show the obverse and reverse at the same time
In 1960 the Royal Mint issued their shilling coins with both an English and a Scottish reverse. Because of the lower population of Scotland, they produced far fewer Scottish shillings than English shillings. The coins on offer are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and are now 64 years old. Here we offer the 1960 English Shilling Brilliant Unc. The Royal Mint struck its last shillings for circulation in 1960. Not easy coins to find these days.
In 1960 the Royal Mint issued their shilling coins with both an English and a Scottish reverse. Because of the lower population of Scotland, they produced far fewer Scottish shillings than English shillings. The coins on offer are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and are now 61 years old. Here we offer the 1960 English Shilling Unc. The Royal Mint struck its last shillings for circulation in 1960. Not easy coins to find these days.
In 1960 the Royal Mint issued their shilling coins with both an English and a Scottish reverse. Because of the lower population of Scotland, they produced far fewer Scottish shillings than English shillings. The coins on offer are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and are now 61 years old. Here we offer the 1960 Scottish Shilling Brilliant Unc. The Royal Mint struck its last shillings for circulation in 1960. Not easy coins to find these days.
In 1960 the Royal Mint issued their shilling coins with both an English and a Scottish reverse. Because of the lower population of Scotland, they produced far fewer Scottish shillings than English shillings. The coins on offer are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and are now 61 years old. Here we offer the 1960 Scottish Shilling Unc. The Royal Mint struck its last shillings for circulation in 1960. Not easy coins to find these days.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, there were two different types of Shillings issued every year. One had a reverse with an English design and one had a reverse with a Scottish design. The Scottish designs are always the more difficult ones to find because they made less of them than the English reverse. This coin is now 60 years old and Uncirculated examples are very difficult to find. The Scottish reverse has a lion standing and is rather majestic. The coins are in Uncirculated condition and more difficult to find than the catalogue indicates.
1962 Uncirculated Scottish Shilling. The last shilling was issued in 1966 that means that they are at least 56 years old and in Uncirculated condition.
Shillings with the Scottish reverse were first made in 1937, to honour Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, George VI’s wife. They were last made in 1966, because we were going decimal. The coins on offer are dated 1963 and in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, remember it is almost the last date that a Scottish Shilling was struck. Nice gifts to anyone with Scottish blood in them. Brilliant Uncirculated and dated 1963.
1964 Uncirculated Scottish Shilling. The last shilling was issued in 1966 that means that they are at least 56 years old and in Uncirculated condition.
Most people think that the last pre-decimal coins struck for circulation were dated 1967, they would only be partly right. In fact most pre-decimal coins were last struck in 1967, that is except for the Shilling. The last Shilling struck for circulation was in 1966, they did not make any in 1967. They issued two diff erent types of 1966 Shillings, the English reverse and the Scottish reverse. The coin on off er this issue is the Scottish 1966 Shilling in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. As the Shilling had a direct decimal equivalent they felt that they had enough of this denomination to fi ll all their needs at the time.
King George II ruled from 1727-1760 and he was, of course, the son of King George I. There are two different busts of the King used on his coinage, the Young Head which was used from 1728-1745 and the Old Head which was used from 1746-1758. It is this older bust Shilling that we are offering here. The coins on offer were all struck in 1758. They were struck in Sterling Silver and have a mature bust of the King wearing a laurel wreath on one side and the crowned set of four shields on the other side. They represented England, Ireland, Scotland and France (!); you see we still claimed part of France even in those days. The Shilling is a nice-sized coin and we can offer it in Fine, remember that these coins are now 262 years old!
John Tanner designed this rather fabulous Hanoverian depiction of King George II. We have a small group of these impressive shillings in Extremely Fine grade, they’re dated 1758. The obverse features Tanner’s portrait of the King, the reverse features crowned cruciform shields with the central Garter star, with the date 1758 divided above. These fabulous shillings are 265 years old and getting rare in this grade, stocks are limited.
King George II ruled from 1727-1760 and he was, of course, the son of King George I. There are two different busts of the King used on his coinage, the Young Head which was used from 1728-1745 and the Old Head which was used from 1746-1758. It's the older bust Shilling that we are offering here. The coins were all struck in 1758, all struck in Sterling Silver and have a mature bust of the King wearing a laurel wreath on one side, and the crowned set of four shields on the other side. They represented England, Ireland, Scotland and France (!). You see, the British Monarchy still claimed part of France even back in those days... The Shilling is a nice sized coin and we can offer it in Very Fine, remember that these coins are now 263 years old!
In 1816, they changed our coinage system completely. Gone was the Guinea and in was the Sovereign. The Shilling was one of the first of the new coins to appear. This first new shilling was issued from 1816-1820 with the portrait of King George III. They were struck in Sterling Silver and are now over 200 years old. We have examples of this coin in different grades. Dates will be of our choice but the more you order the more different dates we will try and give you. Remember this is the FIRST of the new coinage…
George III’s reign covered a crucial period in British history, which included the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. In 1816, The British economy was in a state of transition, it was a time of rebuilding and economic stabilization for Britain after the long and costly wars against France. The shillings of 1816 serve as a tangible artifact, minted during a time of historical significance as they marked the introduction of Britain’s new coinage in 1816, as well as reflecting the historical context of the post-Napoleonic era. We’ve been putting aside high-grade examples of these fabulous 1816 shillings for a while and are delighted to offer them to you in Choice Uncirculated, we only have 17 in stock so get one while stocks last.
George III Bull Head (1816-1820) Shilling offered in Fair. Dates will be of our choice, but the more coins you order the more dates we will try to give you.
In 1816 the Currency Reform Act came into force, which allowed coins to be struck even without the Monarch’s permission. This was put into place because of King George III’s illness and the shortage of small change. From 1816 on, new designs, new weights, new everything. These are the first of the new Sterling Silver Shillings issued from 1816-1820. You have the bull head of the King on one side and a crowned shield on the other side. Even in this grade supplies are limited.
George III Bull Head Shilling offered in Very Fine. Dates will be of your choice, but the more coins you order the more different dates we will try to give you.
In 1887, Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee, and the Royal Mint was allowed to change her portrait for the first time since 1838. Unfortunately, Queen Victoria hated her new portrait on the Shilling... Coincraft has a nice group of the first year of issue, 1887. The coins are struck in Sterling Silver and are in Very Fine Condition. Considering they are now 130 years old, this is quite outstanding.