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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. This type of shilling was struck as part of a new coinage in gold and silver to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria - fifty years on the throne, 1837-1887. The coins all shared a new "Jubilee" obverse of the Queen by Joseph Edgar Boehm, adapted from his own Jubilee medal. The new obverse proved unpopular and was only used until 1893. The reverse is adapted from the Second Issue shilling of King George IV (1823 - 1825), which is the same as the sixpence of King George IV issued from 1824 to 1825. In a return to earlier tradition, the value and denomination are not shown on the coin. The size of the sixpence was so close to the gold half sovereign in size and design that a sixpence with the same reverse was quickly withdrawn. The shilling did not last very long either and was only produced until 1892, when it was superseded by a new type featuring three shields on the reverse. The composition is Sterling Silver (0.925 silver) and the coins have 0.1682 oz ASW (ounce of Absolute Silver Weight). 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. | ||||
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Country | United Kingdom |
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Currency | Pound Sterling (pre-decimal) |
Sub-type of | Shilling |
From | 1887 |
To | 1892 |
Face Value | 1 (x Shilling) |
Current | No (demonetised 1990) |
Material | 0.925 Silver |
Designer | Leonard Charles Wyon |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Round |
Orientation | Medal Alignment (Axis 0) |
Size | 23.5000 mm |
Mass | 5.6552 g |
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Image | Details |
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Great Britain 1887 shilling KM-761
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Notes: Common reverse (1887 - 1892). Source |
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Great Britain 1887 shilling KM-761
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Notes: Queen Victoria, "Small Jubilee head" (1887 - 1889). Source |
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Coin - Shilling, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1890
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Queen Victoria, "Large Jubilee head" (1889 - 1892). Source |