Shilling (Bob)

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.

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!