Elizabeth II Shillings

Issued with both English and Scottish reverses from 1953 until 1970. Several minor varieties exist, and the 1959 mule is a notable rarity.

Elizabeth II Shilling Issues

1953 English
1+A

1953 English
2+A

1953 Scottish
1+A

1953 Scottish
2+A

1954 English

1954 Scottish

1955 English

1955 English
Small Design

1955 Scottish
3+C

1955 Scottish
3+D

1956 English
3+C

1956 Englisg
3+D

1956 Scottish

1957 English

1957 Scottish

1958 English

1958 Scottish

1959 English

1959 Scottish
Type 1

1959 Scottish
Type 2

1960 English

1960 Scottish

1961 English

1961 Scottish

1962 English

1962 Scottish

1963 English

1963 Scottish

1964 English

1964 Scottish

1965 English

1965 Scottish

1966 English

1966 Scottish

Basic Details for both English and Scottish

Diameter: 24 mm
Weight: 5.7 g
Alloy: Copper 75% Nickel 25% (1947–1951)

Price Analysis of Elizabeth II Shillings

This chart is an analysis of the price achieved for nearly 1000 of my sales of Elizabeth II shillings over the past ten years or so, corrected for grade. The stand out peaks are clear to see, as is the obvious difference between the '50s issues and those of the '60s.

1953

Both types of 1953 shillings occur with two obverses, the shallow Obverse 1 issued in the plastic set, and the deeper engraved Obverse 2 intended for currency. Obverse 2 coins are rather difficult to find in top grade. The completist, therefore, will be looking for four types of 1953 shilling.

As with the other denominations, it is always worth keeping an eye out for high grade Obverse 2s. There aren't that many left. Most high grade 1953 shillings will be Obverse 1, ex plastic set.

Obverse Comparison

Obverse 1	Obverse 2

I of LIZ at a bead	I of LIZ between beads

1953 Varieties

	Obverse 1 - English Shallow portrait I of LIZ at a bead I of GRATIA between beads : after OMN between beads legs of N in OMN at beads R of BRITT away from truncation
	Obverse 1 - Scottish Shallow portrait I of LIZ at a bead I of GRATIA between beads : after OMN between beads legs of N in OMN at beads R of BRITT away from truncation
	Obverse 2 - English Recut portrait I of LIZ between beads I of GRATIA to the right of a bead : after OMN at a bead legs of N in OMN between beads R of BRITT close to truncation
	Obverse 2 - Scottish Recut portrait I of LIZ between beads I of GRATIA to the right of a bead : after OMN at a bead legs of N in OMN between beads R of BRITT close to truncation

1954

1954 is one of those "second year after the coronation" years. Everyone hoarded the new monarch's first year coins, but no-one hoarded the second. This pattern can be followed through the twentieth century and across denominations:

1902 is common, 1903 is not
1911 is common, 1912 is not
1937 is common, 1938 is not

...and 1954 shillings and bigger should always be snapped up if you see them in UNC.

Incidentally, 1954 is the only year to feature Reverse B. The reverse changes twice in the following two years.

1954 English Shilling

1954 Scottish Shilling

1955

1955 shillings have two distinct Scottish reverse types, C and D, and difficult to identify microvarieties for the English and Reverse C Scottish coins.

The small design varieties of the 1955 English Reverse and 1955 Scottish Reverse C are detailed in Davies and Groom but tend not to be included in more general works as they are so difficult to identify. I do not know if they are rare or not – the single example to have passed through my hands, illustrated below, was highlighted to me by a more experienced collector. I have never managed to find the Scottish variant, but if I'm honest, I haven't looked that hard.

Reverse C is the scarcer of the two main Scottish reverses.

1955 Varieties

	Small Design - English Smaller reverse design Broader rim Teeth thicker Characteristic rounded appearance
	Reverse C - Scottish D of DEF at a bead F of DEF between beads Both quatrefoils between beads 2nd I in SHILLING at a bead
No photo - I still haven't found one of these	Reverse C, small design
	Reverse D - Scottish D of DEF between beads F of DEF to the left of a bead Left quatrefoil at a bead Right quatrefoil to the left of a bead 2nd I in SHILLING between beads

1956

1956 English shillings occur with two reverse types, Reverse C and Reverse D, and both are tricky in high grade. Davies estimates that the two reverses are of similar abundance. I concur – similar numbers of each have passed through my hands.

Reverse Comparison

Reverse C	Reverse D

I of FID at a bead	I of FID between beads

1956 English Varieties

	Reverse C D of FID between beads I of FID at a bead D of DEF at a bead Right quatrefoil at a bead
	Reverse D D of FID to the left of a bead I of FID between beads D of DEF to the left of a bead Right quatrefoil to the right of a bead

1956 Scottish Shilling (no varieties)

1957

1957 Scottish shillings are among the more difficult dates in the series, much trickier than the English type, while the situation is reversed for 1958, with the English type being one of the most elusive coins in top grade, and the Scottish being relatively easy to find.

1957 Scottish shillings, in UNC, are probably as Scarce as the more well known 1959 Scottish.

1957 English Shilling

1957 Scottish Shilling

1958

1958 English shillings, in UNC, are one of the great unsung rarities of this period. Hoover them up if you find any.

1958 English Shilling

1958 Scottish Shilling

1959

1959 Scottish shillings are only very difficult in true UNC, and its rarity is well documented and probably over-estimated. It is always worth repeating that these rarity assessments only apply to UNC coins. Examples of ALL Elizabeth II shillings, all years, exist in low grade (EF and below) in huge quantities.

There is also a useful microvariety to distinguish:

1959 English Shilling

1959 Scottish Shilling – Type Varieties

	Type 1 All 3 ornaments touch the baseline A little scarcer
	Type 2 Ornaments 2 & 3 away from baseline A little commoner

1960

1960 English Shilling

1960 Scottish Shilling

1961

Some dates are stubbornly difficult to find in anything above standard circulated grades. You'll find the 1961 Scottish particularly tricky.

1961 English Shilling

1961 Scottish Shilling

1962

1962 English Shilling

1962 Scottish Shilling

1963

1963 English Shilling

1963 Scottish Shilling

1964

1964 English Shilling

1964 Scottish Shilling

1965

Collecting from change was popular in 1965, prior to decimalisation, and the perception was that the low mintage of the 1965 Scottish Shilling might make it collectable. Most 1965 Scottish shillings are consequently UNC or thereabouts.

1965 English Shilling

1965 Scottish Shilling

1966

1966 English Shilling

1966 Scottish Shilling