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 five 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), and then the Britannia Florin (1902 - 1910).
At the beginning of the reign of King George V in 1910, this new type was introduced featuring a cruciform with the Arms of England (repeated twice), Scotland and Ireland. The design was adapted from that of the short-lived Double Florin denomination (1887 - 1890). This coin type was was replaced by the second type of King George V florins in 1927.
The composition was Sterling Silver (0.925 silver) with 0.3364 oz ASW (ounce of Absolute Silver Weight) until 1919; in 1920, along with the rest of the silver coinage, it was debased to 50% silver. 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 | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King George V facing left.
Below, on the neck truncation in small letters, are the designer's initials B.M. (for [Sir Edgar] Bertram Mackennal )
Around, the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:. Translated from Latin: George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. |
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| Reverse | |
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Within a beaded border, the reverse design features a cruciform of four crowned shields forming a cross around the Star of the Garter. The shields bear the arms of England (top and bottom): three lions "passant guardant", Scotland (right): a rampant lion, and Ireland (left): a harp.
In the angles are four sceptres dividing the shields, two surmounted by orbs, the others by a harp and a thistle.
Around above, divided by the crown on the top English shield, the denomination ONE FLORIN; around below, divided by the crown of the bottom English shield, the date of issue [year]. |
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