Obverse: identify the front

The 1938 reference obverse shows George VI's bare head facing left, with a royal legend retaining IND IMP. The reference credits T.H.Paget for KM 39; the museum identifies small HP initials below the neck. The 1910 KM 20 obverse has Edward VII's crowned bust facing right, attributed by the reference to G.W.de Saulles. A George VI photograph does not illustrate the 1910 type.

Reverse: identify the back

The George VI reverse shows a ram's head facing left above the value and date, attributed by the reference to George Kruger Gray. The museum's 1938 reverse reads AUSTRALIA and SHILLING with its date. The 1910 type instead displays arms attributed to W.H.J.Blakemore. Later .500 shillings retain a ram reverse, so the ram alone cannot establish sterling fineness.

History and purpose

The matching dated references join the 1910 Edward VII issue and 1938–1944 George VI issues at the designated 5.65 g sterling calculation standard. They do not establish uninterrupted issuance throughout 1910–1944. George V material is excluded because the inspected KM 26 reference gives different weight and ASW inputs. The postwar .500 family is separately reviewed and must not inherit the sterling calculator.

How to identify this variant

Retain the full date, appropriate portrait, SHILLING denomination, reverse design and any S mintmark. Matching KM 20 is 23.5 mm; matching KM 39 is 24 mm in the reference and has a reeded edge. MuseumVictoria records 23.5 mm for its individual 1938 specimen. This difference is disclosed rather than substituted silently. A measured diameter or gross mass alone cannot establish silver fineness, proof finish or authenticity.

Understanding its metal content

Three matching 5.65 g/.925 shillings contribute .504 reference fine silver troy ounce and 16.95 nominal gross grams. The calculator retains the reference’s rounded .168 oz input. The later .5005.65 g family contributes .0908 oz per coin and requires its own guide. The conflicting George V reference contributes .1621 oz in its the reference table and is not normalized into this guide. Nominal content is distinct from actual assay, wear or an offer.

Dates, varieties and composition changes

Specific source-supported issue years: 1910, 1938–1944. KM 20 lists 1910(L) regular and proof entries. KM 39 lists 1938(m) and 1939(m), each with a separate proof row; 1940(m), 1941(m); 1942(m) and 1942 S; 1943(m) and 1943 S; 1944(m) and 1944 S. Parenthesized mint labels identify reference mint attribution and do not imply that every specimen bears a visible letter. No 1945 issue is inferred.

Melt value versus collector value

Keep proof documentation, exact dates and mint attribution with the specimen. The separately listed 1910, 1938 and 1939 proofs require finish identification beyond a shiny surface. Collector value can exceed nominal metal content. Preserve original surfaces and provenance; cleaning may damage useful evidence.

Authenticity and condition

Provide both complete faces and the edge with measured mass and diameter where possible. The 1938 museum object supplies an authentic reference design, not certification of another specimen. Its dimensions are recorded as specimen information. Coins with altered dates, different portraits, plating or unexpected measurements need independent examination.

Selling this coin

Separate the matching sterling issues from postwar .500 shillings and unresolved George V records. Photograph the full date and mintmark with both faces. Use the existing CashForCoins appraisal enquiry with the selected quantity; educational fine-metal content is not an automatic purchase offer. Preserve individual dates and finishes when describing a collection.

Sources and calculation methodology

The designated reference sterling-shilling melt group retains 5.65 g/.925/.168 fine silver troy ounce. Matching dated KM 20 and KM 39 agree with those inputs. KM 20 documents 23.5 mm; KM 39 documents 24 mm. MuseumVictoria measures its 1938 specimen 23.5 mm, a separately recorded specimen measurement. KM 26 reports conflicting 5.45 g/.925/.1621 oz and remains excluded pending clarification; this reference conflict is not proof of a genuine separate statutory standard. Actual annual rows, specifications and designs were inspected in public references on 2026-10-12. The museum object separately verifies its 1938 portrait, ram reverse and Melbourne attribution. MuseumsVictoria explicitly licenses photographs under CC BY 4.0 with reuse permitted. Both museum face permissions and acquired complete-rim photographs were inspected before private import. No prices or mintages are reproduced.

The complete source faces are converted to WebP without cropping, enlargement, retouching or synthetic reconstruction. Coin engravers are not identified as the photographer.

Common questions

References

• NGC designated world-silver melt reference — designated weight; fineness; reference silver ounces; group span (checked 2026-10-12)
• NGC Australia Shilling KM20 — dated identity; weight; fineness; silver ounces; diameter; dates from annual rows; design; edge; proof entry (checked 2026-10-12)
• NGC Australia Shilling KM39 — dated identity; weight; fineness; silver ounces; diameter; dates from annual rows; design; mint; edge; proof entries (checked 2026-10-12)
• NGC excluded George V KM26 reference — conflicting weight and silver ounces; excluded dated type (checked 2026-10-12)
• MuseumsVictoria1938shilling NU41471 — genuine dated identity; design; specimen diameter; edge; mint; paired photograph independent copyright licence (checked 2026-10-12)
• MuseumsVictoria1938reverse photograph licence — independent CC BY4.0photographic permission; attribution (checked 2026-10-12)

Issue-year references

• NGC Australia Shilling KM20
• NGC Australia Shilling KM39
• NGC excluded George V KM26 reference

Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-12. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.

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