George V Shillings

A complete gallery of George V Shillings issued between 1911 and 1936, showing all known obverse and reverse types.

George V Shilling Issues (1911–1936)

1911 Obv 1 1911 – Obv 1
1911 Obv 2 1911 – Obv 2
1911 Obv 3 1911 – Obv 3
1912 Rev A 1912 – Rev A
1912 Rev B 1912 – Rev B
1913 1913
1914 1914
1915 1915
1916 1916
1917 1917
1918 1918
1919 1919
1920 Obv 3 1920 – Obv 3
1920 Obv 4 1920 – Obv 4
1921 Rev D 1921 – Rev D
1921 Rev E 1921 – Rev E
1922 1922
1923 1923
1924 1924
1925 1925
1926 First Effigy 1926 – First Effigy
1926 Modified Effigy 1926 – Modified Effigy
1927 Old Type 1927 – Old Type
1927 New Type 1927 – New Type
1928 1928
1929 1929
1930 1930
1931 1931
1932 1932
1933 1933
1934 1934
1935 1935
1936 1936

1911

Two different Hollow Neck Obverses and one Flat Neck. Only a single reverse exists.

  • ➤ Obverse 1: Hollow Neck - I of GEORGIVS points between beads (1+A).
  • ➤ Obverse 2: Hollow Neck - I of GEORGIVS points at a bead (2+A).
  • ➤ Obverse 3: Flat Neck - I of GEORGIVS points at a bead (3+A). (Scarcest).
1911 Shilling Varieties
Obverse 1 – Hollow Neck - I of GEORGIVS between beads Reverse A
1911 Obverse 1
 1911 Reverse A
Obverse 2 – Hollow Neck - I of GEORGIVS at a bead Reverse A
1911 Obverse 2
 1911 Reverse A
Obverse 3 – Flat Neck - I of GEORGIVS points at a bead Reverse A
1911 Obverse 3
 1911 Reverse A

1912

A new reverse is introduced this year.

Reverse A, distinguishable by the narrow IMP, is much scarcer than its commoner Reverse B counterpart.

1912 Reverse A - Narrow IMP
1912 Reverse A Left 1912 Reverse A Right
1912 Reverse B - Wider IMP (letters in I M P are more widely spaced)
1912 Reverse B Left 1912 Reverse B Right

1913

All the silver from 1913 is trickier than you might expect.

3+B

1913 Shilling
1913 Right 1913 Left

1914

3+B

1914 Shilling
1914 Right 1914 Left

1915

3+B

1915 Shilling
1915 Right 1915 Left

1916

3+B

1916 Shilling
1916 Right 1916 Left

1917

3+B

1917 Shilling
1917 Right 1917 Left

1918

3+B

1918 Shilling
1918 Right 1918 Left

1919

3+C

A very minor realignment of the D of IND gives the 1919 shilling a single year reverse. Intriguingly, Reverse B was re-adopted the following year.

1919 Shilling Varieties
1919 Right 1919 Left

1920

A new obverse was introduced, so two types of 1920 shilling: Obverse 3 and Obverse 4, both paired with Reverse B.

1920 Shilling Varieties
Obverse 3 – Commoner Reverse B
1920 Obverse 3
  • I of GEORGIVS points between beads
  • Small Head in high relief
  • Flat neck
  • Wide rim
 1920 Reverse B
  • Common reverse paired with both obverses
Obverse 4 – Scarcer Reverse B
1920 Obverse 4
  • I of GEORGIVS points at a bead
  • Large Head in low relief
  • Slightly hollow neck
  • Narrow rim
 1920 Reverse B
  • Common reverse paired with both obverses

Additional Information

  • All 1920 shillings, and all the following dates, are 50% silver.
  • The composition of all the silver coins was debased in 1920 from 92.5% sterling silver to 50% silver. Initially the alloy used was Ag 50%, Cu 40%, Ni 10%, but this was not found satisfactory. Ag 50%, Cu 50% was tried briefly and found 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.

1921

Things get a little complex in 1921. Reverse B is not used again, but two new reverses (D and E) are introduced. Along with Obverses 3 and 4, there is a new Obverse 5. Thus, we have 5 potential combinations for 1921:

  • ➤ 3+D: Very scarce, likely from using up previous year’s obverse dies before introducing Obv 4
  • ➤ 4+D: Fairly common
  • ➤ 4+E: Scarce
  • ➤ 5+D: Fairly scarce
  • ➤ 5+E: Commonest type

The distribution of scarcity across these 5 types suggests that types 4+E and 5+D are probably mules.

1921 Shilling Varieties
Obverse 4 Reverse D
1921 Obv 4
  • I of GEORGIVS points between beads
 1921 Rev D
  • Tail tuft points between the I and M of IMP
Obverse 5 Reverse E
1921 Obv 5
  • I of GEORGIVS points at a bead
 1921 Rev E
  • Tail tuft points at the left leg of the M of IMP

1922

5+E

1922 Shilling
1922 Right 1922 Left

1923

5+E

Quite easy up to EF, but true UNCs are ever so tricky.

1923 Shilling
1923 Right 1923 Left

1924

5+E

Quite easy up to EF, but true UNCs are ever so tricky.

1924 Shilling
1924 Right 1924 Left

1925

5+F

This is the primary condition rarity of the series - N (neither scarce nor common) in grades below VF, S (Scarce) in VF, R (Rare) in EF, and R2 (Very rare) in As Struck condition.

1925 Shilling
1925 Right 1925 Left

1926

Two effigies were used this year: the First Effigy (Obverse 5) and the Modified Effigy (Obverse 6).

1926 Shilling Varieties
Obverse 5 – First Effigy Reverse F
1926 First Effigy Obverse
  • Obverse 5 design
  • Known as the "First Effigy"
  • Early 1926 issue
 1926 Reverse 5
  • Common reverse paired with 1926 obverses
Obverse 6 – Modified Effigy Reverse F
1926 Modified Effigy Obverse
  • Obverse 6 design
  • Modified portrait with improved detail
  • Later 1926 issue
 1926 Reverse 5
  • Common reverse paired with 1926 obverses

1927

6+F

1927 Shilling Varieties
ME Type ME Type
1927 Shilling ME 1927 Shilling ME
New Type New Type
1927 Shilling New Type 1927 Shilling New Type

A comprehensive redesign of the coinage took place in 1927. The two types issued with this date are of similar abundance.

1928

1+A

1928 Shilling
1928 Right 1928 Left

1929

1+A

1929 Shilling
1929 Right 1929 Left

1930

1+A

This is another genuine condition rarity - N (neither scarce nor common) in grades below VF, S (Scarce) in VF, R (Rare) in EF, and R2 (Very rare) in As Struck condition.

1930 Shilling
1930 Right 1930 Left

1931

1+A

1931 Shilling
1931 Right 1931 Left

1932

1+A

1932 Shilling
1932 Right 1932 Left

1933

1+A

1933 Shilling
1933 Right 1933 Left

1934

1+B

1934 Shilling
1934 Right 1934 Left

1935

1+C

1935 Shilling
1935 Right 1935 Left

1936

1+D

1936 Shilling
1936 Right 1936 Left
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