British Shilling

The British Shilling is a small silver coin of the United Kingdom, and the example shown carries the left-facing "Jubilee Head" portrait of Queen Victoria, wearing an ornate veil and a small crown, on the obverse. The reverse displays a crowned heraldic shield with the lions and crosses of the royal arms, and the coin is dated 1887.

Worth twelve pence, or one twentieth of a pound, the shilling was one of the workhorse denominations of British coinage. The 1887 date marks the first year of the Jubilee coinage, issued for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, making this a widely collected and readily recognizable type of Victorian silver.

Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901, and her long coinage passed through several distinct portrait styles. The "Young Head" appeared for the first half of the reign; in 1887 the "Jubilee Head" was introduced, showing the aging queen veiled and wearing a small imperial crown, to mark her Golden Jubilee. This Jubilee portrait was used on the shilling from 1887 until it was replaced by the "Old" or "Veiled Head" coinage in 1893.

The shilling itself was a long-established English and British denomination, valued at twelve pence within the pre-decimal system of pounds, shillings, and pence. Struck at the Royal Mint, the coin circulated heavily until decimalization in 1971, when the shilling was superseded by the five-new-pence piece.

Look for a small silver coin roughly 23-24 mm across bearing a left-facing bust of Queen Victoria in a veil and small crown, with a Latin legend around the rim naming her as queen. The reverse shows a crowned heraldic shield containing the lions and crosses of the royal arms, framed by a wreath, with the denomination and date present.

The Jubilee-type shilling was struck in sterling (.925) silver, so genuine pieces have a bright silver appearance and ring rather than a dull base-metal tone. The 1887 date sits at the start of the Jubilee coinage; wear typically shows first on the queen's cheek, the crown, and the high points of the shield.

As a circulating denomination struck in large numbers, the Victorian silver shilling survives in quantity, so most value comes from condition, date, and eye appeal rather than outright rarity. Well-worn 1887 Jubilee shillings are among the more affordable collectible Victorian silver coins, valued modestly above their silver content, while sharply struck, lightly worn examples command clear premiums.

Certain dates and varieties within the broader shilling series are scarcer and worth more, and any coin's grade heavily affects price. Because the coin contains sterling silver, worn common examples also carry a bullion floor. Treat any single figure as approximate and check recent sales for the specific date and grade.