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An 1817 silver shilling of George III from the “new coinage,” the great recoinage that followed the Napoleonic Wars. It features Benedetto Pistrucci’s laureate portrait of the king and the royal arms with the crowned arms of Hanover at the centre, a reminder that Britain’s king also ruled the German kingdom of his ancestors.
Description
By the early nineteenth century, Britain’s silver coinage had fallen into a sorry state. Almost no new silver had been struck for decades, and the coins in circulation were worn nearly smooth, supplemented by counterfeits and overstamped Spanish dollars. After the defeat of Napoleon, the government acted. The Coinage Act of 1816 placed Britain on the gold standard and authorised an entirely new silver coinage, struck on steam-powered presses at the Royal Mint’s new premises on Tower Hill. Millions of shillings like this one were issued to replace the old, worn coins almost overnight.
The obverse shows the laureate head of George III facing right, the work of the celebrated Italian gem engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, with the legend GEOR: III D:G: BRITT: REX F:D: (“George III, by the Grace of God, King of the Britains, Defender of the Faith”) and the date below. The reverse bears the crowned shield of the royal arms, with the crowned arms of Hanover at the centre, encircled by the Garter and its motto HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE (“Shame on him who thinks evil of it”).
George III, the king who lost the American colonies and saw Britain through the long wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France, was by 1817 living in seclusion at Windsor, with his son ruling as Prince Regent. This shilling belongs to the final years of his sixty-year reign, one of the longest in British history.
Please refer to the photos as part of the description, as they are a critical part of accurately representing this item’s condition and details.
Specifications Country United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Ruler George III (1760–1820) Denomination Shilling (twelve pence) Date 1817 Mint Royal Mint, Tower Hill, London Coinage New coinage (1816–1820) Portrait Benedetto Pistrucci Mintage 23,031,360 References KM# 666; SCBC 3790 Composition Sterling silver (.925) Standard Weight / Diameter 5.65 g / 23.6 mm Edge Milled Condition
Lustrous, almost AU. Please examine the photographs carefully, as grading is subjective.
Grading & Returns
For coins not certified by a third-party grading service, any grade stated in this listing represents our good-faith opinion. We describe and grade each coin as accurately and conservatively as possible; please examine the photographs carefully and use your own judgment regarding grade and condition. If the coin does not meet your expectations, it may be returned within 14 days for a full refund in accordance with the return terms stated in this listing.
Shipping
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SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS
