Monarch: Edward VI 1547 - 1553 or Elizabeth I 1558 - 1603 or George III 1760 - 1820 or Victoria 1837 - 1901 or George V 1910 - 1936 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.
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.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1934 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer 1922 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1920-1926 the Shilling had the same design as the Sterling Silver coinage that would change after 1927. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer 1923 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1920-1926 the Shilling had the same design as the Sterling Silver coinage that would change after 1927. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer 1924 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1920-1926 the Shilling had the same design as the Sterling Silver coinage that would change after 1927. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer 1925 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1920-1926 the Shilling had the same design as the Sterling Silver coinage that would change after 1927. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer 1926 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1920-1926 the Shilling had the same design as the Sterling Silver coinage that would change after 1927. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer 1927 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1920-1926 the Shilling had the same design as the Sterling Silver coinage that would change after 1927. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1928 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1929 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-to 1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1930 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1931 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1932 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1933 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1935 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. Here we offer the 1936 ‘King’s Shilling’. From 1927-1936 the design changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. The coin offered here is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
When you joined the services, it was said that you ‘took the King’s shilling’. So it is appropriate that this issue we offer ‘The King’s Shilling’. There were two distinct types of these George V Shillings. From 1920-1926 they carried on with the design used on the Sterling Silver coinage. From 1927-1936 the design was changed to a Lion proudly standing on a crown. Presented here is 2nd type of the 1927 'King's Shilling'. The coins is in selected circulated condition and struck in .500 silver.
The first coins of King George V, were struck in 925 fine Sterling Silver 1911-1919. After that date they lowered the fineness of the silver to only 500 fine silver. I have a nice little group of these Sterling Silver Shillings in Very Good - Fine condition. Not by date but again by type. Of course the more coins you order, the more different dates we will try and give you. When you joined the Army or Navy in those days you were given a Shilling, which became known as ‘The King’s Shilling’. Many of these coins were struck during World War I and thus have even more history to offer.