| Coin | Shilling 1947 Scottish |
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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 denomination had undergone several earlier changes, including an English Lion on a crown type (1902 - 1927). In 1927, most denominations were re-designed by George Kruger Gray. 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 to it 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In 1953, the design was superseded by a new type of Scottish Shilling featuring the crowned Shield of Scotland.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. Thus, a shilling coin issued in 1947 was legal tender for 43 years.
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| Obverse | |
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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, the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX. Translated from Latin: George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains.
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| Reverse | |
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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: 1947..
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. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
FID : DEF · IND : IMP ONE · SHILLING 1947. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Between 1937 and 1970, British shilling coins were issued with English and Scottish design each year. This is the Scottish design.
The end of World War II saw the price of silver, which had been 24 pence an ounce in 1939, risen to 55.5 pence (the London controlled price) apparently with none available. The free suppliers' price at the time was 70 pence and even there supplies were very limited. In addition, the UK government was under obligation to repay in kind 88,000,000 ounces to the USA obtained during the War. It was therefore decided to abandon silver for circulating coinage and substitute a cupro-nickel alloy. The first coins made with the new alloy were struck in 1947.
References to original information:
77th Annual Report of the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint, 1946 p.1 |
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