1812 3 shilling

[Drew 0]

Finally getting around to looking through some coins that Ive had for 34 years ( procrastination at it's best ) and there are a few coins on which I'm having trouble establishing a value. Ok I live in the States and coin collectors here seem to think the only coins that have value are US coins. No problems identifying liberty bust half dollars, large cents, half cents and the like - but a shilling what's that ?!?

These are scans of a 3shilling (best one I have) For some reason they come out dark but the coin has a nice shiny but slightly tarnished patina so I've included a digital image, no detail but it provides a better idea of the nice coloring. I do realize that value estimates over the internet are difficult at best and do not substitute for an in person inspection but I seem to be a but short on air fare at the moment

[Brianess 0]

Nice looking coin, probably a XF to AU from what I can tell from the pictures. I found it in the Standard Catalog of World coins 19th Century at the back of Great Britain in Token Coinage. It is KM# Tn5, 3 Shilling, 0.9250 Silver (Sterling) Issued by the Bank of England. This catalog lists a value of $60 @ VF, $100 @ XF, and $200 Unc. You will need to send if for certification for encapsulation at a grade.

[Chris Perkins 228]

Or you could just grade it yourself properly and save some money and have a coin you can actually touch!

[Rob 3,152]

q

A shilling is one twentieth of a pound. Before we converted to the decimal system in 1971 there were 12 pennies to a shilling and 20 shillings to the pound.

What you have is a 3 shilling bank token issued by the Bank of England towards the end of George III's reign. These were struck to help alleviate a dire shortage of silver coinage due to the Royal Mint having produced only minimal amounts of silver coinage throughout his entire reign. After the death of George II in 1760, a few silver pieces appear to have been struck after this but bearing the old monarch's bust and dated 1758 which was the last issue of this reign. After this a few shillings dated 1763 (called the "Northumberland Shilling" after the Duke of Northumberland - another story) and the issue dated 1787 were the only silver coins struck for over 50 years. Some captured Spanish 4 & 8 real coins were countermarked from about 1800 onwards with the head of Geo.III and passed for current halfcrowns (2 shillings and sixpence) and crowns (5 shillings) respectively with South American 8 reales passing for 4 shillings and ninepence. They were only in circulation for a relatively short period, being superseded by the new coinage issues from 1816 onwards.

The even tone to the coin suggests that it has been cleaned which will reduce its value somewhat. There is some wear but not a lot. I would grade it a bit better than VF and almost gVF. There is wear to the hair detail and wreath. Attached is a picture of an uncirculated 1 shilling and 6 pence token which has the same detail for comparison. Value of yours? - probably about £30-40 given the cleaning. Spink 2007 gives a price of £60 VF and £175 EF.

[Rob 3,152]

And the reverse.

[Drew 0]

q

The coin has not been cleaned for 34 years but prior to that I couldn't say.

Your image brings up a question Was there more than one die?

I've circled the differences between the coins, most notably the berries on the laurel and the ends of the laurel

File was too large to up load so http://www.seascapeimages.com/coins/3shillingaa.jpg for a comparison of the coins

[Drew 0]

It is KM# Tn5, 3 Shilling, 0.9250 Silver (Sterling) Issued by the Bank of England. This catalog lists a value of $60 @ VF, $100 @ XF, and $200 Unc. You will need to send if for certification for encapsulation at a grade.

Ah using KM-Tn5 I was able to get se3770 which lead me to this pictorial of British coinage http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/SE/SE3770.html which I see is sponsored by predecimal

[Rob 3,152]

q

The coin has not been cleaned for 34 years but prior to that I couldn't say.

Your image brings up a question Was there more than one die?

I've circled the differences between the coins, most notably the berries on the laurel and the ends of the laurel

File was too large to up load so <a href="http://www.seascapeimages.com/coins/3shillingaa.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.seascapeimages.com/coins/3shillingaa.jpg</a> for a comparison of the coins

The dies are slightly different as you point out, but the amount of 3D relief (or depth of detail which is what I was trying to say) is comparable - just not very well articulated. The hair looks to be worn in parts and the edges of all the oak leaves on the reverse also look flat. It could just be due to the lack of contrast in the picture, but if you compare with an uncirculated coin you can see the hair strands from the crown of the head to the wreath are continuous and well defined lines.

Edited October 25, 2007 by Rob

[Drew 0]

The hair looks to be worn in parts and the edges of all the oak leaves on the reverse also look flat. It could just be due to the lack of contrast in the picture, but if you compare with an uncirculated coin you can see the hair strands from the crown of the head to the wreath are continuous and well defined lines.

Looking at this uncirculated coin http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/SE/SE3770-o.1.jpg http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/SE/SE3770-r.1.jpg I have a difficult time seenig the difference. But I am going out shopping for a larger magnifying glass this evening. It may just be my eyes