Introduction
The Sixpence of George V was struck throughout most of the reign and forms a relatively straightforward
but historically interesting series. The George V Sixpence series reflects both the silver debasement of 1920 and later changes to the royal portrait
and reverse design introduced during the reign.
Four distinct coinages can be identified, reflecting changes in
both the silver content of British coinage, modifications to the King’s portrait, and a later redesign
of the reverse.
- 1st Coinage (1911–1920) – Struck in sterling silver (.925) and introduced the new reign with the traditional crowned royal monogram reverse.
- 2nd Coinage (1920–1926) – Retained the same design but used the reduced .500 silver alloy introduced after the First World War.
- 3rd Coinage (1926–1927) – Introduced a modified portrait of George V, creating a short transitional issue.
- 4th Coinage (1927–1936) – Introduced the new “Oak and Acorn” reverse design while continuing the later portrait and .500 silver alloy through to the end of the reign.
Coinage Details
1st Coinage (1911–1920) — The first coinage was struck in traditional sterling silver (.925) and introduced the new effigy of George V by Sir Bertram Mackennal.
The reverse retained the long-standing crowned royal monogram design used on the Edward VII issues.
These early pieces represent the final circulating sterling-silver sixpences before the debasement of British silver coinage.
2nd Coinage (1920–1926) — In 1920, rising silver prices forced the British government to reduce the precious-metal content of circulating coinage.
From this point onward the sixpence was struck in .500 fine silver, containing equal parts silver and base metal.
This change marks the second coinage, which retained the same basic design but used the new alloy.
3rd Coinage (1926–1927) — A further modification followed with the introduction of a revised portrait of George V.
This short transitional issue retained the debased silver alloy but introduced subtle changes to the King’s effigy and legend while continuing the earlier crowned monogram reverse.
4th Coinage (1927–1936) — The fourth and final coinage introduced the distinctive “Oak and Acorn” reverse designed by George Kruger Gray, replacing the earlier crowned royal monogram type.
This design continued with the modified portrait and the .500 silver alloy through to the end of the reign.
Overall, the George V sixpence series reflects the wider economic and artistic changes of the early twentieth century—particularly the impact of rising silver prices after the First World War and the broader move toward modernised coin designs during the later years of the reign.
George V Sixpence
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
Narrow Rim
1925
Broad Rim
1926
First Effigy
1926
Modified Effigy
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
Specifications
| Years Issued |
1911–1936 |
| Diameter |
19.3 mm |
| Weight |
2.83 g |
| Edge |
Reeded |
| Alloy |
1911–1919: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
1920–1936: 50% silver, 40% copper, 10% nickel
|
| Obverse Designer |
Sir Bertram Mackennal |
| Reverse Designers |
1911–1926: George William de Saulles
1927–1936: George Kruger Gray (“Oak and Acorn” design)
|
Year-by-Year Reference
1912
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1913
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1914
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1915
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1916
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1917
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1918
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1919
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1920
The composition of all the silver coins was debased in 1920 from 92.5%
sterling silver to 50%. Initially the alloy used was Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 10%,
but this was not found to be satisfactory. Ag 50%, Cu 50% was tried briefly
and found to be even worse, and finally Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 5%, Zn 5% was
settled on. This alloy saw the coinage through to the final removal of
silver in 1946.
|
Composition Varieties
|
- Ag 92.5%, Cu 7.5%
- Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 10%
- Ag 50%, Cu 50%
|
Both sterling and 50% silver sixpences have been found dated 1920, and those
with better trained ears than I can tell from the ring which is which. I
can't, and I was never that comfortable with dropping coins on a hard
surface in order to listen to the ring, so this a variety that I never
attempted to include.
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1921
Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 10%
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1922
Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 10% OR
Ag 50%, Cu 50%
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1923
Ag 50%, Cu 50%
Condition rarity, rising from Scarce in VF, Rare in EF, to R2 in UNC.
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1924
Ag 50%, Cu 50%
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1927
From this point onwards, the alloy is Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 5%, Zn 5%.
To mark the introduction of new reverse designs across the silver coinage,
15,000 limited edition Proof sets were issued in 1927.
Any sixpence WITH THE NEW ACORN REVERSE dated 1927 will be
from one of these sets; they are highly collectable.
| Obverse 4 |
Reverse C |
|
|
1928
| Obverse 1 |
Reverse B |
|
|
1929
| Obverse 1 |
Reverse C |
|
|
1930
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse D |
|
|
1931
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse D |
|
|
1932
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse D |
|
|
1933
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse D |
|
|
1934
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse E |
|
|
1935
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse F |
|
|
1936
| Obverse 2 |
Reverse G |
|
|
References
Attributions and variety identifications for the George V Halfcrown series are based principally on the standard published references listed below.
These works form the core framework for catalogue numbering, die classification, and comparative study.
- Coins of England and the United Kingdom
- ESC – English Silver Coinage
- Bull – English Silver Coinage since 1649
- Davies – British Silver Coins since 1816
