Florin Britannia, Coin Type from United Kingdom

Florin Britannia, Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1902 - 1910)

Coin Type	Florin Britannia

The pre-decimal florin (2s) was a unit of currency equalling two shillings, or one tenth of a pound sterling, or twenty-four pence. There were four types of florin issued before this one: the so-called Godless Florin (1848 and 1849), followed by the Gothic Florin (1851 - 1887), the Jubilee Florin (1887 - 1892), and then a florin featuring three shields (1893 - 1901).

This Britannia florin was introduced in 1902 at the beginning of the reign of King Edward VII in 1902, and has a Standing Britannia reverse design inspired by the obverse of the British Trade Dollar issued for the Asian colonies (best known as a Hong Kong Dollar). Both side of the florin were designed by George William de Saulles, who also designed the Trade Dollar in 1895. The coin type was short lived and was replaced by the first type of King George V florins in 1911.

The composition is Sterling Silver (0.925 silver) and the coins have 0.3364 oz ASW (ounce of Absolute Silver Weight). When the currency became decimal in 1971, by which point the denomination was already debased to copper-nickel, florins were re-denominated as ten new pence; they remained legal tender until 1993, when a smaller type of ten pence replaced them.

Obverse

Bare head of King Edward VII facing right; below in small letters De S. (for G.W. De Saulles, Mint Engraver); around, EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:.

The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King Edward VII facing right.

Below the neck truncation, in small letters are the artist's initials DES. (for [George William] de Saulles).

Around, the monarch's legend: EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:. Translated from Latin: Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

Obverse Inscription	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:

Reverse

The reverse of the coin shows the standing figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain, holding a trident in one hand and balancing a shield with the British Union Jack flag in the other, her cloak billowing in the wind behind. She wears a crested Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face.

Britannia is standing on the prow of an ancient ship, on the prow of which is inscribed the date of issue: [year].

Around left and around right, the value of the coin in two forms: ONE FLORIN on the left and TWO SHILLINGS on the right (the florin equals two shillings, with a shilling equalling 12 pence).

Reverse Inscription	ONE FLORIN TWO SHILLINGS [year]

Edge	Milled	Edge Inscription	None

Coin Type: Florin Britannia - (9) Coins

Coin Name	Mintage	Effigy	Legend
Florin 1902	2,204,698	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Florin 1903	995,298	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Florin 1904	2,769,932	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Florin 1905	1,187,596	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Florin 1906	6,910,128	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Florin 1907	5,947,895	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Florin 1908	3,280,010	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Florin 1909	3,482,829	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:
Florin 1910	5,650,713	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:

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Florin Britannia: Details

Country	United Kingdom
Currency	Pound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Sub-type of	Florin (Two Shillings)
From	1902
To	1910
Face Value	2 (x Shilling)
Current	No (demonetised 1993)
Material	0.925 Silver
Designer	George William de Saulles
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	28.3000 mm
Mass	11.3100 g

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Florin Britannia: Photos

Image	Details
	Great Britain 1907 florin Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Notes: Britannia reverse (1902 - 1910). Source
	Great Britain 1907 florin Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Notes: King Edward VII (1902 - 1910). Source

Florin Britannia, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information