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 seven 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), a florin featuring three shields (1893 - 1901), the Britannia Florin (1902 - 1910), the first florin issue of King George V (1911 - 1926) and the second florin issue of King George V (1927 - 1936).
At the beginning of the reign of King George VI in 1937, much of the coinage was re-designed by George Kruger Gray, including the florin. The new design features a crowned rose surrounded by a thistle and a shamrock; as before, the reverse also displays part of the monarch's legend, continuing from the obverse. The wording was changed, with the denomination now given as "two shillings" and not a "florin". This coin type was issued until 1946, when the silver coinage was debased and the denomination became copper-nickel (initially preserving the same design).
The composition of the coins is 0.500 silver with 0.1818 oz ASW (ounce of Absolute Silver Weight). When the currency became decimal in 1971, florins were re-denominated as ten new pence; they remained legal tender until 1993, when a smaller type of ten pence replaced them. |
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The reverse design features a rose (the floral symbol of England) crowned with the Crown of Saint Edward, dividing a thistle (the floral symbol of Scotland) above the letter G (for Georgivs - George) and a shamrock (the floral symbol of Ireland) above the letter R (for Rex - King).
Divided by the base of the rose, in tiny letters the artist's initials KG (for [George] Kruger Gray).
Around above, the continuation of the monarch's legend from the obverse: FID: DEF: IND: IMP: (Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India).
Around below, the denomination TWO SHILLINGS, and the date: [year]. |
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