Monarch: Edward VI 1547 - 1553 or Elizabeth I 1558 - 1603 or William III 1694 - 1702 or George II 1727 - 1760 or Victoria 1837 - 1901 or George VI 1936 - 1952
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.
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!
It was in the reign of King George VI that all silver was removed from our coinage and replaced with what we use today, cupronickel. But what many collectors don’t realise is that the cupronickel coins of George VI in choice condition are much rarer to get than choice silver coins of George VI. We purchased a group of the 1949 English Shillings, put away in 1949, and are they super! We have classed them Choice Uncirculated and Gem Uncirculated, the worst coin is far superior to what you see on the market and the finest coins are just about as good as you will ever see. The current catalogue price on this coin is £35.00 in just Uncirculated condition and all of these are much nicer than that. A chance to buy a Choice George VI 1949 English cupronickel Shilling at a price that will please you…
The shillings of George VI presented here were issued with the Scottish reverse type, and depict a crowned lion seated on top of a crown holding a sword and sceptre with the date divided in two, the legend above, and with the denomination below. All struck between 1947-1951. 5 coins in total that show the change of legend that occurred 1949 when the mint had to remove ‘IND IMP’ because the monarch was no longer Emperor of India. These were also the last Shillings struck in the reign of George VI as he died early in 1952.
World War II was over and our coinage was still struck in silver, something that would carry on for just one more year. Starting with his Coronation in 1937, the Shilling had been struck with both an English and a Scottish reverse. So this 1945 English Shilling is the penultimate English Shilling to be issued in silver. Here we offer the 1945 Shilling in Uncirculated condition. Remember these are still struck in 500 fine Silver.
It was in the reign of King George VI that all silver was removed from our coinage and replaced with what we use today, cupronickel. But what many collectors don’t realise is that the cupronickel coins of George VI in choice condition are much rarer to get than choice silver coins of George VI. We purchased a group of the 1949 English Shillings, put away in 1949 and are they super! We have classed these as Choice Uncirculated; the worst coin is far superior to what you see on the market and the finest coins are just about as good as you will ever see. The current catalogue price on this coin is £35.00 in just Uncirculated condition and all of these are much nicer than that. A chance to buy a Choice George VI 1949 English cupronickel Shilling at a price that will please you.
In 1946 for the last time ever the Royal Mint struck coins for everyday usage in Silver. Here we offer the English Shilling. It has taken a little while but we have finally enough of these last ever silver coins to offer to our collectors. All coins are struck in 500 fine Silver by the Royal Mint and are the last silver coins ever to be struck for circulation. All 1946 coins are in selected circulated condition.
We have just bought a nice group of high grade King George VI Silver Shillings. These are the last Silver Shillings ever to be made for circulation. They were made between 1937 and 1946 and there are two reverses, one for England (presented here) and one for Scotland. The coins are in Extremely Fine or better condition, but as we bought them as a lot, we are going to sell them unchecked. Dates will be as they come out of the bag, but the quality will always be high and they are the last type of Shilling ever to be made in silver for general usage.
The cupro-nickel coinage was first made in 1947 and this type was only made for two years 1947 and 1948. We have the King George VI 1948 Shillings issued with the Scottish reverse in About Uncirculated. Both are difficult to find, as this is an anniversary year, they were struck 70 years ago. A two year only type coin with the Scottish reverse and in high grade, how much more could you ask for?
It was during the reign of King George VI that all silver was removed from our coinage and replaced with what we use today, cupronickel. But what many collectors do not realise is that the cupronickel coins of George VI in choice condition are much harder to get than choice silver coins of George VI. We recently purchased a group of the 1949 Scottish Shillings, put away in 1949 and they are super! We've have classed them Choice Uncirculated and Gem Uncirculated, presented here is the coin graded in Gem Unc. The worst coin is far superior to what you see on the market and the finest coins are just about as good as you will ever see. A chance to buy a Choice George VI 1949 Scottish cupronickel Shilling at a price that will please you…
In 1946 for the last time ever the Royal Mint struck coins for everyday usage in Silver. Here we offer the Scottish Shilling. It has taken a little while but we have finally enough of these last ever silver coins to offer to our collectors. All coins are struck in 500 fine Silver by the Royal Mint and are the last silver coins ever to be struck for circulation. All 1946 coins are in selected circulated condition.
We have just bought a nice group of high-grade King George VI Silver Shillings. These are the last Silver Shillings ever to be made for circulation. They were made between 1937 and 1946 and there are two reverses, one for England and one for Scotland. The Scottish issue (presented here) was made to honour the King’s wife, Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. The coins are in Extremely Fine or better condition, but as we bought them as a lot, we are going to sell them unchecked. Dates will be as they come out of the bag, but the quality will always be high and they are the last type of Shilling ever to be made in silver for general usage.