Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design, Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1902 - 1927)
Coin TypeShilling, Lion on Crown First Design

The pre-decimal shilling (1s), also abbreviated in sums as e.g. 1/- for one shilling, was a unit of currency equalling one twentieth of a pound sterling, or twelve pence sterling; the "s" in the abbreviation is not from "shilling" but from "sestertius" - the Roman coin which was the ancestor of the denomination. It was used in the United Kingdom, and earlier in Great Britain and England.

The denomination had undergone several earlier changes: the King George III shilling (1816 - 1820), King George IV first issue (1821 only), King George IV second issue (1823 - 1825), King George IV third issue (1825 - 1829), the "wreath" type (1831 - 1887), a brief shield of the Coat of Arms (1887 - 1892) and then a "three shields" type (1893 - 1901).

This design, featuring the English lion on top of St Edwards Crown, was introduced at the beginning of the reign of King Edward VII in 1902; it was later introduced on the sixpence too, in 1911. The design was issued until 1927.

The composition was Sterling Silver (0.925 silver) with 0.1682 oz ASW (ounce of Absolute Silver Weight) until 1920 when it was debased to 50% (0.0903 oz ASW) together with the rest of the silver coinage. When the currency became decimal in 1971, shillings were re-denominated as five new pence; they remained legal tender until 1990, when a smaller type of five pence replaced them.

Obverse
United Kingdom / Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design - obverse photo

Effigy of the ruling British monarch, part of the legend (in Latin).

During the existence of this coin type, shillings were issued for:
- King Edward VII (1902 - 1910)
- King George V (1911 - 1927)

Obverse Inscription Legend of the ruling British monarch
Reverse
United Kingdom / Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design - reverse photo

The centre of the reverse shows St Edward's Crown surmounted by the crowned Lion of England. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, the crown has been traditionally used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th century (with a two-century gap between 1689 and 1911). The lion is walking to left, its head turned to face the viewer.

The date of issue [year] is within the central circle, divided by the crown.

Within a beaded border, around above is the continuation of the monarch's legend: FID: DEF: IND: IMP: (abbreviated from FIDEI DEFENSOR INDIAE IMPERATOR - Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India).

Around below, the denomination ONE SHILLING.

Reverse Inscription FID: DEF: IND: IMP: [year] ONE SHILLING
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Coin Type: Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design - (26) Coins
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Shilling 1902 7,905,604 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1903 2,061,823 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1904 2,040,161 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1905 488,390 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1906 10,791,025 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1907 14,083,418 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1908 3,806,969 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1909 5,664,982 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1910 26,547,236 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1911 20,071,908 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1912 15,594,009 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1913 9,001,509 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1914 23,415,843 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1915 39,279,024 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1916 35,862,015 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1917 22,202,608 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1918 34,915,934 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1919 10,823,824 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1920 22,825,142 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1921 22,648,763 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1922 27,215,738 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1923 14,575,243 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1924 9,250,095 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1925 5,418,764 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1926 22,516,453 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Shilling 1927 Old Type 9,262,244 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
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Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Sub-type ofShilling
From1902
To1927
Face Value1 (x Shilling)
CurrentNo (demonetised 1990)
Material0.925 Silver
DesignerGeorge William de Saulles
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size23.5000 mm
Mass5.6552 g
Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design: Photos
ImageDetails
Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design: Photo Coin - Shilling, Edward VII, England, Great Britain, 1902 Coin - Shilling, Edward VII, England, Great Britain, 1902
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Common reverse (1902 - 1919).
Source
Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design: Photo Coin - Shilling, Edward VII, England, Great Britain, 1902 Coin - Shilling, Edward VII, England, Great Britain, 1902
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King Edward VII (1902 - 1910).
Source
Shilling, Lion on Crown First Design: Photo Coin - Shilling, George V, Great Britain, 1918 Coin - Shilling, George V, Great Britain, 1918
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King George V (1911 - 1919).
Source