1 Shilling - George III Older bust
| Silver (.925) | 6.02 g | 25 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) and Australia |
|---|---|
| King | George III (1760-1820) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1787-1798 |
| Value | 1 Shilling (1⁄20) |
| Currency | Pound sterling (1158-1970) |
| Composition | Silver (.925) |
| Weight | 6.02 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#13154 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 27% |
Reverse
Cruciform shields with large Garter star central, crowns in angles, date below, legend around.
Note: varieties exist (see below)
Script: Latin
Lettering:
•M•B•F•ET•H•REX•F•D•B•ET•L•D•S•R•I•A•T•ET•E•
1787
Translation: King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg Arch Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire
Engraver: Lewis Pingo
Edge
Reeded slanting right
Comment
The standard weight of these coins was 6/31 troy ounce (92.9 grains).
Obverse and reverse die varieties:
KM#607.1, Sp#3743 (1787) No semée of hearts in Hanoverian shield;
KM#607.1, Sp#3744 (1787) No semée of hearts, no stop over head;
KM#607.1, Sp#3745 (1787) No semée of hearts, no stops at date;
KM#607.1 Sp#3745A (1787) No semée of hearts, no stops on obv;
KM#607.2, Sp#3746 (1787) With semée of hearts in Hanoverian shield;
KM#607.3, Sp#3747 (1798) With semée of hearts, no stop over head;
KM#607.3, Sp#3747 struck in 1798 is known as the Dorrien and Magens Shilling. Several London bankers had acquired about 30000 pounds worth of silver which was sent to the Mint for coining. Unfortunately the Lords of the Committee in Council declared the coins illegal, and the very great majority were melted down. One of the banks went by the glorious name of 'Messrs Dorrien, Magens, Mello, Martin and Harrison'. It seems that the government were worried that the issue would stimulate a demand for more coins which they would have been powerless to satisfy, as the price of silver was very high. Fewer than 20 pieces are known to exist today.
This type is one of the 1800 Australian Proclamation coins. In 1800 the then-Governor of New South Wales, Philip Gidley King issued a proclamation that ten specific British, Netherlands, Indian, Portuguese and Spanish coins were to be brought into the colony and given inflated denominations than what was indicated on the coins so that they would say in circulation in the colony. This Shilling had a value of 1 Shilling and 1 Pence.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the 1 Shilling - George III (Older bust) coin is that it was minted during a time of great change and upheaval in the British Empire. The coin was minted from 1787 to 1798, a period that saw the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the rise of the British Empire as a global power. Despite these momentous events, the coin's design remained relatively unchanged during this time, with the older bust of George III featuring on the obverse (front) side of the coin. This coin is a testament to the enduring legacy of the British monarchy and the stability of the British currency system during a time of great turmoil and change.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1787 | 746480 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 1 Shilling - George III (Older bust) 1787-1798 coin.
