Shilling Coin Value: Uncover Your Old Shilling’s Worth

Posted by: Ian • 13 Dec 2025

Found a few old shillings and wondering if you're holding onto pocket change or a hidden gem? You're not the only one. The value of a shilling isn't just about its old face value; it's a story told through its history, metal, and how many are left. A common British shilling might fetch you a few pounds, but a rare one from a particular year could be a collector's dream.

What Makes an Old Shilling Valuable?

Figuring out what an old shilling is really worth goes way beyond the "one shilling" stamped on it. Several key things come together to determine its final value, turning it from obsolete money into a piece of history that collectors actively search for. Knowing what to look for is the first step to discovering what your coins might be worth.

It doesn't matter if you inherited a tin full of coins, found some tucked away in a drawer, or have a jar of leftover holiday money. The same principles apply. A coin's past, its current condition, and how many were originally made all play a massive part.

The Key Factors in Coin Valuation

At its core, a shilling's value boils down to three main things: what it's made of, what it looks like now, and how rare it is. These elements work together to give a full picture.

Metal Content: Not all shillings were made equal. British shillings minted before 1920 are 92.5% sterling silver, which gives them a solid "melt value" on its own. From 1920 to 1946, this was dropped to 50% silver. After 1947, they were made of cupronickel, which has no precious metal value.
Condition (Grade): A coin that looks almost brand new, with sharp details and very little wear, is always worth much more than one that's heavily worn, scratched, or damaged. This physical state is called its grade.
Rarity (Mintage): Simply put, how many were ever made? A shilling from a year with a low production run (or low mintage) is naturally harder to find and, because of that, more in-demand among collectors.

For many people, the biggest surprise is the metal. A pre-1947 silver shilling will always have a base value linked to the current price of silver, no matter its condition. This gives it a solid price floor, which can then climb higher depending on how collectable it is.

Turning Old Coins into Cash the Easy Way

So, you've got a pile of shillings, maybe mixed in with other leftover foreign currency. The idea of sorting through them all, checking dates, and trying to judge the condition can feel like a huge task. That’s where our fast, easy, and hassle-free service makes all the difference.

Our process is built to be simple and convenient. There is absolutely no need to sort your coins. Just gather up all your leftover holiday money, old British coins, and obsolete banknotes, and send them to us. We take care of all the hard work of identification and valuation for you.

This 100% guaranteed service is trusted by major UK brands, including national charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces who count on us to process recovered currency. We make it simple to exchange foreign coins and notes, giving you peace of mind and a straightforward way to turn forgotten money into cash. Find out how simple it is on our homepage.

How To Identify Your Shilling Coins

Before you can figure out what your shillings are worth, you need to know exactly what you’ve got. At first glance, a pile of old shillings might all look the same, but the tiny details are what reveal their origin, age, and potential value. Let's walk through the key features to look for, so you can confidently identify what's in your collection.

The good news is, this process is much simpler than you might think. By checking a few key spots on each coin, you can start to piece together its story. This first step is crucial, whether you're planning to exchange foreign coins for cash or donate foreign coins to charity.

Pinpointing The Country Of Origin

The easiest clue for identifying a shilling is usually the portrait of the reigning monarch staring back at you. This is especially true for British and Commonwealth coins.

British Monarchs: Keep an eye out for familiar faces. You'll often see portraits of Queen Victoria, King George V, King George VI, or a young Queen Elizabeth II on British shillings. Each monarch has a distinct effigy that pins the coin to a specific era.
Distinct Symbols: Flip the coin over to the reverse (the "tails" side). This is where you'll often find national crests or symbols. For instance, British shillings typically show either the English or Scottish crest, which alternated over the years. An English shilling might feature three lions, while its Scottish counterpart has a single lion rampant.

Learning to spot these details helps you quickly sort British shillings from those minted in other countries like Ireland, Australia, or East Africa, which all used the shilling denomination but had their own unique designs.

Locating The Date And Mint Mark

Once you've got the country figured out, the next step is finding the date. You’ll usually find this on the reverse side. The date is vital, as it tells you the coin's historical context and can hint at its rarity—a shilling from a year with a low mintage is often much more interesting to collectors.

Just as important, but often much harder to see, is the mint mark. This is a tiny letter that tells you where the coin was made. While many British coins were struck at the Royal Mint in London (which often used no mint mark at all), others were produced at branch mints.

A mint mark can completely change a coin's value. For example, some shillings minted in Birmingham or Heaton might have a small 'H' or 'KN' stamped on them. These are the kinds of subtle details that are easy to miss but are exactly what collectors hunt for as signs of a rarer issue.

It’s worth taking a moment to examine your coins closely, maybe even with a magnifying glass, to spot these tiny yet significant marks. Getting the date and mint combination right is a huge part of solving the valuation puzzle.

This timeline illustrates the core factors—Rarity, Condition, and Metal—that influence a shilling's value over time.

As the infographic shows, a coin’s metal content gives it a base value, but its condition and rarity are what can give it a real premium as a collector's item.

Understanding Metal Composition

The metal a shilling is made from plays a huge part in its baseline value. The British shilling is a perfect example of this. For centuries, it was a cornerstone of UK currency, with 20 shillings making up one pound sterling right up until Decimal Day in 1971.

Its silver content is what really matters. British shillings minted before 1920 contain 92.5% silver (Sterling silver), giving them a significant value based on their metal alone. Coins minted between 1920 and 1946 contain 50% silver, while those from 1947 onwards were made from cupronickel and have no silver content.

Sorting coins by their metal content is a common first step for collectors. But if you’re just looking to convert foreign coins and banknotes with us, you can skip this step entirely. Our service is designed to be fast and hassle-free, so there's no need to sort your coins.

Whether you have silver shillings, cupronickel coins, or other pre-decimal currency, our experts handle all the identification for you. We provide a 100% guaranteed service trusted by major UK organisations, including charities, supermarkets, airports, and police forces.

Key British Shilling Identification Features By Monarch

To help you get started, here's a quick reference table for identifying British shillings from different eras. It breaks down the key features you'll find under each monarch.

Monarch	Reign Dates	Key Design Feature	Metal Composition
Queen Victoria	1837–1901	Young, Jubilee, or Veiled Head portraits	92.5% Silver (Sterling)
King Edward VII	1901–1910	Bare head, facing right	92.5% Silver (Sterling)
King George V	1910–1936	Bare head, facing left	92.5% Silver (until 1919), 50% Silver (1920-1936)
King George VI	1936–1952	Bare head, facing left. English & Scottish crests	50% Silver (until 1946), Cupronickel (1947 onwards)
Queen Elizabeth II	1952–2022	Young portrait, facing right. English & Scottish crests	Cupronickel

This table should make it easier to quickly categorise your coins and get a better sense of what you're holding. Just match the portrait to the monarch and check the date to see what it's made of.

Getting to Grips with Your Coin’s Condition and Grade

Once you know what shilling you have, the next step is figuring out its physical condition, or ‘grade’. In the world of coin collecting, condition is everything. It’s often the one thing that separates a common shilling from a valuable collector’s piece, and it has a massive impact on its market price.

Think about it: a coin that’s been rattling around in pockets and tills for decades will look a lot different from one that was tucked away safely soon after it was minted. This wear and tear is exactly what grading measures. Getting a basic handle on this will help you set realistic expectations when you decide to exchange your coins.

A Quick Guide to Coin Grades

Coin grading might sound complicated, but it really just boils down to a few main categories. While the pros use a hyper-detailed numbering system, you can get a pretty good idea of your shilling's value by understanding these general levels.

Poor (P) or Fair (F): The coin is so worn you can barely make out the date or main features. It might also have serious damage like deep scratches, bends, or corrosion.
Good (G): Most of the design is worn flat, but the main outlines are still there. You can read the date and lettering, even if they’re a bit weak.
Very Good (VG) to Fine (F): The design is much clearer, but you’ll see that the finer details are worn away—things like the strands of hair on a monarch’s head or the individual feathers on a crest.
Very Fine (VF) to Extremely Fine (EF): This is where things get interesting. Most of the original detail is still sharp, with just a touch of wear on the highest points of the design. The coin still has a lot of its original shine, or lustre.
Uncirculated (UNC) or Mint State (MS): The coin looks just as it did the day it was made. There’s no sign of wear from being in circulation, and it has all its original lustre. Even tiny scratches from being handled can knock a coin out of this grade.

To put it in perspective, a common George V shilling in 'Good' condition might only be worth the value of its silver. But the very same coin in 'Uncirculated' condition? It could fetch hundreds of pounds from the right collector. The only difference is how well it’s been preserved.

Keeping an Eye Out for Damage

Beyond the general wear from circulation, specific types of damage can send a coin's value plummeting. Collectors are a picky bunch, and anything that wasn't done at the mint is usually a big red flag.

If there's one piece of advice every new collector needs, it's this: never, ever clean your old coins. It’s so tempting to polish up a dull silver shilling, but you’ll be creating thousands of tiny scratches that an expert can spot a mile off. This can destroy up to 90% of a coin's collector value instantly.

Here are a few other common problems to watch for:

Scratches and Gouges: Obvious marks that cut into the coin’s surface.
Rim Dings: Dents along the edge, usually from being dropped.
Corrosion or Pitting: A rough, bubbly surface caused by environmental damage, especially on non-silver coins.
Bending: Any sign that the coin isn't perfectly flat.

Assessing the grade and checking for damage gives you a much clearer picture of your shilling's potential worth. For example, understanding the condition of a 1953 five shilling coin is crucial for its valuation, which you can read more about in our guide on the value of a 1953 five shilling coin.

Of course, this careful inspection takes time, especially if you have a big bag of mixed currency. The good news? If your goal is simply to turn leftover foreign currency into cash, you can skip all this. Our service is designed to be fast, easy, and completely hassle-free. There's no need to sort your coins by grade, country, or metal content.

Just send us your currency, and our experts will handle the entire valuation process for you. It's a 100% guaranteed service trusted by major UK organisations, from police forces and airports to national charities.

So, What Are Your Shillings Actually Worth?

Right, you’ve figured out what your shillings are and have a decent idea of their condition. Now for the exciting bit: finding out what they're actually worth. This is where a little bit of detective work turns a pile of old coins into something with real, tangible value.

To get a proper sense of the market, you need to look where the serious collectors and dealers do. Think online auction results, specialist coin dealer websites, and the latest price guides. These places show you what people are really paying for coins like yours, which is the only measure of value that truly matters.

Melt Value vs. Collector Value

Before you dive in, there’s a crucial difference you need to grasp: the two types of value your shilling might have. Getting this right is probably the most important part of valuing any coin.

Melt Value: This is simply the value of the precious metal inside the coin. For British shillings, any coin dated before 1947 has silver in it—92.5% for pre-1920 coins (Sterling silver) and 50% for those from 1920-1946. This gives them a baseline value tied directly to the day’s silver price.
Numismatic Value: This is the collector's value. It’s what someone is willing to pay based on rarity, condition, and historical importance. A really crisp, high-grade shilling or one from a rare year can be worth far more than its weight in silver.

A common, heavily worn pre-1947 shilling might just be worth its silver content. But a perfect, uncirculated version of that exact same coin? That could be a different story altogether, with a numismatic value that leaves its melt value in the dust.

How to Research Shilling Prices Online

The internet is your best friend here, packed with up-to-the-minute pricing info. The trick is knowing where to look and how to read the results. Always focus on sold prices, not what people are asking for. An asking price is just a wish; a sold price is a fact.

Start by searching the "sold" or "completed" listings on online auction sites. Be specific. Instead of a vague search like "shilling coin value," try "1935 silver shilling sold price." This weeds out all the unsold items and gives you a realistic benchmark.

A quick pro-tip: always compare like with like. Pay close attention to the grade. A coin sold as 'Extremely Fine' will fetch a much higher price than one listed as 'Good'. Matching your coin’s condition to the ones you see online is vital for an accurate estimate.

Why Prices Can Vary So Much

You’ll soon see that shilling values can be all over the place. A common 1948 shilling, with over 45 million minted, might only be worth £1 in circulated condition. But find a perfect uncirculated one, and you could be looking at over £20.

Then you have the rarities. A 1951 proof version can sell for £50-£100. And if you’re lucky enough to have a historically important piece, like a siege shilling from the English Civil War, you could be looking at anything from £200 to over £1,000. You can find some fascinating examples over at The Collectors Club of Great Britain.

All this research is interesting, but it can be incredibly time-consuming. If you’ve inherited a jar of old currency, the thought of looking up every single coin can feel like a mammoth task. That’s where we come in.

We offer a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to exchange foreign coins and notes. There’s no need to sort through everything or spend hours poring over price guides. We handle all the identification and valuation for you. Our process is 100% guaranteed and trusted by major UK organisations, including charities, supermarkets, and police forces. We make it simple to convert foreign coins and banknotes, ensuring you get a fair value for your whole collection without all the hard work.

From Coin Jar to Cash: Your Next Steps

Right, you’ve sorted through your shillings, figured out what you've got, and have a rough idea of their value. So, what now? This is the exciting part—turning that jar of old coins into actual cash you can spend.

The idea of selling a collection can feel like a chore, but it really doesn't have to be. We’ve designed our whole process to be as simple and straightforward as possible. Forget the complexity; our goal is to give you an easy way to cash in on your old currency.

A Simple Process You Can Trust

We've built our service on trust and simplicity. We’re proud to be the go-to currency exchange partner for some of the biggest UK organisations, from well-known charities and supermarkets to airports and even police forces. Knowing they trust us should give you complete peace of mind that your currency is in safe, professional hands.

But the best part? It's incredibly convenient. One of the biggest headaches with mixed currency is having to sort it all out.

The good news is, you don't need to sort your coins. Just bung everything together—shillings, old pennies, pesetas, francs, dollars—and send it all to us. We handle all the identification, sorting, and valuation, saving you hours of tedious work.

This "no sorting needed" approach is a core part of our promise. Whether you want to exchange foreign coins, convert old banknotes, or donate foreign coins to charity, it all starts the same way: just gather up what you have.

Getting Your Currency Ready For Exchange

Once you’ve got your collection of coins and notes together, popping them in the post is simple. No need for fancy packaging—a sturdy box or a well-padded jiffy bag will do the job perfectly.

Here’s a quick guide to packing them safely:

Bag Up the Coins: Pop any loose coins into a strong plastic bag or small container. This stops them from rattling around and potentially damaging the outer packaging.
Use Robust Packaging: Choose a tough envelope or a small box. It’s always a good idea to add some padding like bubble wrap or scrunched-up newspaper to keep everything snug.
Pop Your Details Inside: Don't forget to include your name and contact information inside the package. That way, we can match the currency to your account the moment it arrives.

We always recommend using a tracked postal service. It adds that extra layer of security and lets you see exactly where your package is on its journey to us.

What Happens When It Arrives

Once your parcel lands at our secure facility, our experts get straight to work. They’ll meticulously sort, identify, and value every single coin and banknote you've sent.

We use up-to-the-minute rates to make sure you get a fair and accurate value. As soon as the valuation is done, we'll let you know the total. The entire process is 100% guaranteed, so you can move forward with total confidence.

This hassle-free system is perfect for anyone who's finally ready to cash in on that forgotten stash. From old shillings to leftover holiday money, we make it easy to convert foreign coins and banknotes into funds you can actually use. To see how we stack up against other options, check out our guide on the best places to sell old coins. It’s a great place to start.

Common Questions About Shilling Coins

We get a lot of questions about old shillings, from their value to the best way to handle them. To help clear things up and give you some confidence, we’ve put together answers to the queries that land in our inbox most often.

Are All Old Shillings Made of Silver?

It’s a common belief that every old shilling is a silver treasure, but the truth really comes down to the date it was minted.

British shillings struck before 1920 are indeed made of sterling silver (that's 92.5% pure). The ones made between 1920 and 1946 contain 50% silver. After 1947, however, the metal was switched to cupronickel, a copper-nickel alloy with no silver content at all. While the metal gives older coins a base value, a shilling's rarity and condition often make it far more valuable to a collector.

What’s the Easiest Way to Exchange Old Foreign Coins?

Honestly, the most convenient and hassle-free method is using a specialised online exchange service like ours. If you try traditional routes like banks or the Post Office, you’ll likely find they won't accept obsolete currency or mixed bags of foreign coins, leaving you at a dead end.

Our service is designed to be fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed. We take away the headache of sorting or identifying anything yourself. You can just send us mixed bags of foreign coins and banknotes—including obsolete currency like shillings—and our experts will handle the rest.

It’s an approach trusted by major UK brands, from national charities and supermarkets to airports and police forces. You just pack up your currency, send it off, and get paid. Simple.

Do I Need to Sort My Coins Before Sending Them?

Absolutely not! One of the biggest advantages of our service is how much time and effort it saves you. We accept all foreign coins and banknotes mixed together in one parcel.

Our 'no sorting required' policy is at the heart of what we do. You don’t need to worry about separating coins by country, denomination, or metal type. That's our job, and we’re happy to do it for you.

Can I Donate My Old Shillings to Charity?

Yes, and it’s a fantastic way to support a cause you care about. So many of us have jars of forgotten currency sitting around that could make a real difference. Instead of letting old coins and notes gather dust, you can turn them into a valuable contribution.

We partner with lots of UK charities, making it incredibly simple to donate foreign coins to charity. Our secure service offers an impactful and transparent way to make sure your collection helps those in need. It's a straightforward process that transforms your unwanted currency into vital funds for good causes—and a great alternative to figuring out the individual shilling coin value for a large, mixed collection.

Ready to turn your old and foreign currency into cash? At We Buy All Currency, we've made the process fast, easy, and completely hassle-free, with no need to sort your coins. Our service is 100% guaranteed and trusted by major UK organisations, including charities, supermarkets, airports, and police forces. We make it simple to exchange foreign coins, leftover foreign currency, and old or obsolete currency. Visit our homepage to get started today!