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| Edward VI |
ENGLAND - PRE-1603 Edward VI
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Silver 1S (1551-53) England S-2482 EDWARD VI S2482
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PCGS XF 40
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The first silver coin in England to be called the shilling was issued in the reign of Edward Vi in 1551. This was a continuation of the testoon issued during the reign of his father, Henry VIII. The shilling remained in use continually in England (and later the United Kingdom) until decimalisation in 1971.
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| Philip and Mary |
ENGLAND - PRE-1603
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1S 1555 England S-2501 PHILIP AND MARY
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NGC VF 25
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With the death of young King Edward VI, his Catholic half-sister Mary assumed the throne and a political marriage with Philip of Spain was arranged. A strange time indeed to have the portrait of England's historical enemy on their own coinage! Many of these coins were defaced or melted down, making collectible examples quite scarce.
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| James I |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S (1607-09) England S-2656 JAMES I (6.00g)
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NGC XF 40
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The first of the Stuart kings to rule England, James I (James VI of Scotland) was chosen by Elizabeth I to succeed her, as she had no heirs. Silver shillings of this era are not uncommon but are scarce in higher grades.
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| Charles I, Hammered |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S (1633-34) England S-2789 CHARLES I (5.99g)
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NGC VF 35
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The infamous reign of Charles I is numismatically complex, with a multitude of mints producing a diverse number of coins, especially during the civil war period from 1642 until the king's execution in 1649. This particular example was produced at the Tower mint in about 1633.
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| Charles I, Briot: Machine-made |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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PENNY (1638-43) England S-2849 CHARLES I
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PCGS XF 45
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A Briot milled shilling produced by a machine, rather than hammered by hand. Although superior in quality, they were slower to produce and thus were only minted for a few years before the London mint reverted to hammered coins once again. Many of the blanks for these machine-produced coins were overweight and had to be adjusted by filing them down. This resulted in unsightly adjustment marks through the king's portrait and reverse shield. This example is fortunately free of these blemishes.
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| Commonwealth |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S 1652 England BULL-108 ESC-986 COMMONWEALTH
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NGC AU 55
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During the interregum Commonwealth period when Oliver Cromwell was governing as Lord Protector, coins were again produced using the hammered method. The result is a wide variation in quality of the strikes and irregularity of the flans. This example shows small flan splits at 5 & 11 o'clock, annealing marks in the centre of the reverse shield and evidence of double striking - all common traits for coins of this era.
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| Cromwell |
ENGLAND 1603-1707 Commonwealth
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Silver 1S 1658 England CROMWELL
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PCGS AU 53
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In sharp contrast to the other coins issued during the English Commonwealth (1649-1660), the coins bearing Oliver Cromwell's portrait are of a superior quality as a result of production using machine presses. Silver crowns, half crowns, shillings and sixpences were produced, mostly dated 1658. All denominations are scarce and the sixpences are extremely rare.
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| Charles II, Hammered |
ENGLAND 1603-1707 Charles II
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Silver 1S (1660-62) England BULL-273 ESC-1009 CHARLES II Bull 273
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PCGS XF 45
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For the first 2 years after Charles II was invited back to England from his exile in France, hammered coins were again produced, eschewing the more modern machine presses. There was no doubt significant pressure from the mint workers worried about losing their jobs to machines and they made great efforts to produce better quality hammered coins to try and compete with the presses. This example is a nice survivor although there is still evidence of double striking and flatness in places.
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| Charles II, Milled |
ENGLAND 1603-1707 Charles II
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Silver 1S 1663 England 1ST BUST CHARLES II
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PCGS XF 40
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Starting in 1662, all coins at the Tower mint were machine produced, eliminating the hammered process forever. Coins produced were now of a uniform size, shape and quality. This particular coin is a good example showing clear detail in all the devices, even though it is only an XF40.
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| James II |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S 1686 England JAMES II
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NGC XF 40
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James II, brother of Charles II, had a very short reign of just 3 years. It came to an ignominious end when Parliament forced him to abdicate the throne which was precipitated by his appointment of numerous Catholic supporters to key positions of power. He died in exile in France. His grandson "Bonnie Prince Charlie" would later make several unsuccessful attempts to usurp the throne. Coins from this short reign are generally scarce.
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| William and Mary |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S 1693 9/0 England BULL-867A ESC-1076A WILLIAM & MARY
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NGC VF 25
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For the second time in England's numismatic history, joint rulers were featured on the country's coinage (the first being the political union of Philip and Mary 140 years prior). Shillings were only issued for 3 years during William and Mary's joint reign, all of which are scarce. This example interestingly shows an overdate for 1690, a year for which no shillings were issued.
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| William III, York Mint |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S 1696y England BULL-1191 ESC-1086 WILLIAM III
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PCGS AU 55
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During William's sole reign, coins were produced at a number of regional mints. This example shows the (y)ork mintmark under William's bust.
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| William III, Bristol Mint |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S 1696B England BULL-1158 ESC-1081 WILLIAM III
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NGC AU 55
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Another shilling produced at a regional mint, this one from (B)ristol. Note the adjustment marks through the date, very typical for this issue due to overweight flans being produced necessitating them having to be filed down.
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| William III, Tower Mint |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S 1700 England WILLIAM III
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NGC MS 64
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A large proportion of extant William shillings show production from very worn dies resulting in loss of detail to the king's hair and to the reverse devices, particularly the date and centre of the shields. This example thankfully displays good detail on both obverse and reverse.
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| Anne, Pre-union |
ENGLAND 1603-1707
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1S 1703 VIGO England ANNE
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NGC AU 58
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Anne shillings comprise another challenging set to collect, with over 50 recognised varieties and combinations of dates, mint marks, silver provenances and die variations. Note the flecking or haymarking on this coin caused by impurities in the silver used to make the flans. This was quite prevalent during Anne's reign, affecting a large proportion of the silver coins minted.
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| Anne, Post-union |
GREAT BRITAIN 1707-1815
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1S 1708 G.britain
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PCGS MS 63
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This is a "post-union" shilling, having been struck after the union of Scotland with England in 1707. Atypically, it's fairly well struck, showing good detail in the hair and on the reverse.
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| George I |
GREAT BRITAIN 1707-1815
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1S 1723 SSC G.britain 1ST BUST
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NGC MS 63
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The 1723 shilling is by far the most common of the George I shillings as a result of the significant amount of silver being supplied to the mint by the South Seas Company. The shillings with silver provenances of roses (west England), plumes (Wales), roses & plumes (Company for melting down lead) or WCC (Welsh Copper Co.) are much scarcer.
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| George II, Young Head |
GREAT BRITAIN 1707-1815
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1S 1741 G.britain ROSES
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NGC MS 61
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The roses in the reverse angles indicate that the source of the silver was from mines in the west of England.
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| George II Lima, Old Head |
GREAT BRITAIN 1707-1815
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1S 1745 LIMA G.britain
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NGC MS 63
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Lima on the obverse indicates that the source of the silver was from bullion siezed by the British navy from Spanish vessels returning from colonies in the New World. This example is a fairly well-struck coin showing good detail in the king's hair and excellent detail and toning on the reverse.
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| George II, Old Head |
GREAT BRITAIN 1707-1815
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1S 1758 G.britain
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NGC MS 63
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1758 is the last and most common year of the George II shillings. They were probably produced over several years with the same date.
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| George III, Northumberland |
GREAT BRITAIN 1707-1815
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1S 1763 G.britain NORTHUMBERLAND
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NGC AU 58
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The so-called Northumberland shilling was produced in very small numbers with total estimates of about 3000 pieces. This and the 1787 shilling produced in large numbers were the only shillings issued for circulation in the first 56 years of George III's reign.
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| George III, Intermediate Bust |
GREAT BRITAIN 1707-1815
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1S 1787 G.britain STOP AFTER III
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NGC MS 63
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This is the last shilling issued for general circulation prior to the great re-coinage which occurred in 1816.
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| George III, Intermediate Bust, Semeé |
GREAT BRITAIN 1707-1815
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1S 1787 G.britain HEARTS
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NGC MS 63
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This example displays the semee of hearts in the Hanoverian shield, differentiating it from the previous coin without hearts.
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| George III, Old Head |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1S 1817 G.britain
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NGC MS 65
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A complete revamp of England's coins took place in 1816 - the great re-coinage. New machinery was installed at the mint and new dies with new designs were produced for all denominations. The detail and quality of the coins produced was a substantial improvement over previous issues. Silver coins were produced in large quantities between 1816 and 1820 and are generally not hard to find in nice condition.
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| George IV, Type 1 |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1S 1821 G.britain
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NGC MS 61
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The first of 3 major types during this relatively short 10-year reign is this laureate head shilling with an ornate shield reverse.
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| George IV Type 2 |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1S 1824 G.britain
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PCGS MS 64
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This is the second of the 3 major designs for George IV with the same laureate head as before but with a redesigned shield for the reverse. The engraving is incredibly ornate.
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| George IV Type 3 |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1S 1826 G.britain
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NGC MS 64
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Here is the 3rd of the George IV types with a re-design of both the obverse and reverse. This example is exceptionally well struck with tremendous detail to the king's hair and all details on the reverse clear and crisp.
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| William IV |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1S 1836 G.britain
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NGC MS 64
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The reverse design of Wiilliam IV's shillings clearly shows design elements which will be carried forward into Queen Victoria's reign.
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| Victoria Young Head |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1S 1884 G.britain Type A4/1c Bull 3074
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NGC MS 65
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The design of the young head Victoria shilling underwent numerous minor modifications between 1838 and 1887, the last year of production, but the basic portrait and reverse elements remained the same throughout. This example displays a strong strike without any of the characteristic die flaws prevalent with this issue.
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| Victoria Jubilee Head |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1S 1887 G.britain JUBILEE HEAD
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PCGS MS 62
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To celebrate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee in 1887, the coinage received a newly designed obverse and in the case of the shilling, a new reverse design as well.
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| Victoria Old Head |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1S 1896 G.britain SMALL ROSE
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NGC MS 65
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After utilising the Jubilee obverse for 6 years, it was decided in 1893 to redesign the obverse once more and replace it with the so-called old head or veiled head design. This particular example from 1896 is the scarcer small rose variety.
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| Edward VII |
GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1S 1902 G.britain
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NGC MS 64
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The obverse portrait design of Edward VII makes his coins difficult to grade at times, particlarly those struck from worn dies. This example is a nicely toned and well struck example showing good detail in the king's hair.
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| George V, 1st Coinage |
GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1S 1915 G.britain
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NGC MS 64
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This is an example from the 1st of 4 coinages from the 26-year reign of George V.
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| George V, 2nd Coinage |
GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1S 1926 G.britain ORIGINAL BUST
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NGC MS 65
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In 1920, the silver content of all denominations was reduced from 92.5% to 50% as a result of the increase in raw silver prices. The design remained virtually unchanged.
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| George V, 4th Coinage |
GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1S 1927 G.britain MODIFIED REVERSE
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NGC PF 66
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Part way through 1927, a new reverse design was introduced with the "modified effigy" obverse remaining unchanged. This example is from the proof set issued in 1927.
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| George VI, Scottish Crest |
GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1S 1937 G.britain SCOTTISH CREST
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PCGS PF 67
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With the succession of George VI after his brother's abdication, it was decided to have two shilling designs: one with the English coat of arms and the other with the Scottish. This example from the 1937 proof set is the Scottish reverse.
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