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

Shilling, Scottish Lion on Crown, Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1937 - 1951)
Coin TypeShilling, Scottish Lion on Crown

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), a "three shields" type (1893 - 1901), and then the English Lion on a crown (1902 - 1927).

In 1927, most denominations were re-designed by George Kruger Gray as part of the so-called "Fourth Coinage". The other denominations got new themes, but the shilling retained the general idea of the English Lion on top of St Edward's Crown; it was just re-designed to look more streamlined, and the crown is seen from a different aspect.

At the beginning of the reign of King George VI two Tudor roses were added and the earlier design was re-branded the "English Shilling", while this Scottish Shilling was introduced in parallel. It features a "Scottish" lion on top of the crown, a Scottish shield on the left and a thistle (the floral emblem of Scotland) on the right. Every year shillings of both types were issued in comparable mintages.

In 1953, the design was superseded by a new type of Scottish Shilling featuring the crowned Shield of Scotland.

The composition was 50% (0.0903 oz ASW) until 1946, after which time it was debased to copper-nickel 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, Scottish Lion on Crown - obverse photo

Within a beaded border, the obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King George VI facing left.

Below the neck truncation in small letters, the artist's initials HP (for [Thomas] Humphrey Paget).

Around, part of the the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX, which is an abbreviation from GEORGIVS VI DEI GRATIA BRITANNIARUM OMNIUM REX; translated from Latin, it means "George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains". The rest of the legend is on the reverse.

Obverse Inscription GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Reverse
United Kingdom / Shilling, Scottish Lion on Crown - reverse photo

The centre of the reverse shows the Crown of Scotland surmounted by a crowned Scottish Lion facing the viewer, holding both the Sceptre and the Sword of State. The depiction is from the crest of the Royal Arms used in Scotland, which by long-standing tradition differ from those used elsewhere. To the left and right of the crown, the artist's initials KG (for [George] Kruger Gray).

On the left, the Shield of Scotland bearing the cross of St. Andrew; on the right, a thistle, the floral emblem of Scotland, its leaves raised to form the outline of a shield. Above these, divided by the lion, the date of issue: [year].

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.

Due to the Independence of India, the "Emperor" part of the legend was dropped in 1948; the designer's initials were also removed at this time.

Reverse Inscription FID : DEF · IND : IMP ONE · SHILLING [year]
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Coin Type: Shilling, Scottish Lion on Crown - (15) Coins
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Shilling 1937 Scottish 6,775,277 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1938 Scottish 4,797,852 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1939 Scottish 10,263,892 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1940 Scottish 9,913,089 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1941 Scottish 8,086,030 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1942 Scottish 13,676,759 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1943 Scottish 9,824,214 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1944 Scottish 10,990,167 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1945 Scottish 15,106,270 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1946 Scottish 16,381,501 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1947 Scottish 12,283,223 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1948 Scottish 45,351,937 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1949 Scottish 21,243,074 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1950 Scottish 14,317,114 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Shilling 1951 Scottish 10,981,174 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
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London Mint Office coins.
London Mint Office coins.
Shilling, Scottish Lion on Crown: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Sub-type ofShilling
From1937
To1951
Face Value1 (x Shilling)
CurrentNo (demonetised 1990)
Material0.500 silver
DesignerGeorge Kruger Gray
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
Size23.5000 mm
Mass5.6500 g
Shilling, Scottish Lion on Crown: Photos
ImageDetails
Shilling, Scottish Lion on Crown: Photo Great Britain 1946 Shilling Great Britain 1946 Shilling
Copyright: smarty_marty24
Source
Shilling, Scottish Lion on Crown: Photo Great Britain 1946 Shilling Great Britain 1946 Shilling
Copyright: smarty_marty24
Source