It is not surprising that the precious metal silver was used in common currency until recently. Most believe silver should still be used as currency. After all, it is money with real value.
Please find below a rough guide to the real silver content in old British coins.
Other guides: Silver content in currency
Silver content in old coins from the USA
Silver Content in old coins from Canada
Old British Silver coins - Silver content
When buying old British silver coins, there is a rule of thumb:
Pre 1920 British silver coins - Silver content: 92.5% [Sterling Silver]
1920-1947 British silver coins - Silver content: 50%
1947 and above, British silver coins contain no silver.
Silver content of old British coins [Individual coin values]
Pre 1920 British Sterling Coins Silver Content
Coin | Denomination | Silver content [Troy ounce] |
3 pence | 0.0420 | |
6 pence | 0.0842 | |
Shilling | 0.1682 | |
Florin | 0.3365 | |
Half Crown | 0.4206 | |
Double Florin* | 0.6728 | |
Crown | 0.8409 | |
Coin | Denomination | Silver content [Troy ounce] |
* Double Florins were only in circulation between 1887-1890