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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. The "wreath" type of shilling was introduced at the beginning of the reign of King William IV and was issued from 1831 to 1887, well into the reign of Queen Victoria. Its design is the same as the sixpence coin issued in the same period, only with a different inscription. The reverse inscription was an innovation at the time, breaking with two earlier traditions - it shows the value and denomination, whereas earlier coins did not, and was in English - whereas earlier coins carried inscriptions only in Latin. 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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Royal Mint |
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London Mint Office coins. |
Country | United Kingdom |
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Currency | Pound Sterling (pre-decimal) |
Sub-type of | Shilling |
From | 1831 |
To | 1887 |
Face Value | 1 (x Shilling) |
Current | No (demonetised 1990) |
Material | 0.925 Silver |
Designer | Jean Baptiste Merlen |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Round |
Orientation | Coin Alignment (Axis 6) |
Size | 24.0000 mm |
Mass | 5.6552 g |
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Image | Details |
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Proof Coin - Shilling, William IV, Great Britain, 1831
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Wreath reverse, no die number (1831 - 1863, then 1879 - 1887). Source |
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Coin - Shilling, Queen Victoria Great Britain, 1873
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Wreath reverse, die number (1864 - 1879). Source |
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Proof Coin - Shilling, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1880
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: No die number (1880 - 1887). Source |
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Proof Coin - Shilling, William IV, Great Britain, 1831
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: King William IV (1831 - 1837). Source |
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Great Britain 1844 shilling
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Heritage Auction Galleries Notes: Queen Victoria (1838 - 1887). Source |