British Silver Sixpence — .500 Dated Types
Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.
United Kingdom • 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified
Issue years: 1920–1946
Fine silver: 0.045500 troy oz
United Kingdom • florin / two shillings
British Silver Florin — .500 Dated Types
British .500 silver florins use 11.3104 nominal gross grams and 0.1818 reference fine silver troy ounce per matching coin. The three inspected types list 1920–1933 and 1935–1946; no 1934 annual row occurs. The genuine 1938 photographs show the George VI floral reverse. A florin is the two-shilling denomination; sterling and later base-metal pieces require separate specifications.
Anakin101 / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain photograph; Whole-face halves split from genuine paired source and converted to WebP; no artwork changes or upscaling · Image source · Public domain photograph
Anakin101 / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain photograph; Whole-face halves split from genuine paired source and converted to WebP; no artwork changes or upscaling · Image source · Public domain photograph
When a fresh spot bid is available, melt values use fine-metal content × spot bid. CashForCoins guide buying offers use the separately configured percentage for each metal. Selected rare/numismatic coins require an appraisal. Dollar amounts remain unavailable when a fresh quote or buying percentage is missing.
Verified coin specifications
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Face denomination
- florin / two shillings
- Composition
- 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified
- Gross weight (grams)
- 11.3104
- Fineness
- 0.5
- Fine-metal weight (troy oz)
- 0.1818
- Diameter (mm)
- 28.3
- Edge
- Reeded
- Mint
- Royal Mint; actual specimen attribution required
- Restrikes
- Patterns, other alloys and unresolved replicas excluded
- Issue years
- 1920–1933, 1935–1946
Twenty-six actual family years across KM817a, KM834 and KM855. No 1934 annual row occurs in the inspected tables, including proofs. The 1927 KM834 entries are proof/matte proof. Designs and finish availability remain type-specific. Earlier sterling, later base-metal issues and patterns are excluded.
- Source precision
- All three included dated tables agree with the designated melt standard: 11.3104 g, .500 fineness and .1818 ASW, with 28.3-mm diameter and reeded edges. The inspected annual rows omit 1934, including proofs. Thickness and remaining alloy-metal identities are not independently verified. The photograph page’s unrelated catalogue annotation is not used to establish the coin’s the reference type.
Calculate this coin’s metal content
Formula: specified fine-metal troy ounces × quantity. Dollar melt value additionally requires an approved current metal price.
Obverse: identify the front
The genuine 1938 portrait shows George VI facing left, with his name and royal titles. The reference attributes this portrait to T. H. Paget. Earlier included florins have George V on the obverse. Match the royal name, opposite design, complete date and denomination together; a portrait shared with other coins does not establish a florin.
Reverse: identify the back
The illustrated 1938 reverse reads TWO SHILLINGS around a crowned Tudor rose with a thistle, shamrock and the royal letters G and R. The reference attributes the design to George Krueger-Gray. The reverse appears on the left in the original paired photograph. George V types use crowned shields and sceptres in differing arrangements, so the floral illustration represents the later type only.
History and purpose
The .500 florin family spans the earlier George V arrangement of crowned shields and sceptres, the later cross of crowned sceptres with shields between, and the George VI floral reverse. The dated tables connect the two-shilling denomination across those designs. Their annual evidence also preserves a missing year rather than assuming uninterrupted production.
How to identify this variant
Read TWO SHILLINGS or the matching older florin denomination, full date, royal name and reverse arrangement. The three inspected .500 types all specify 11.3104 g, 28.3 mm and reeded edges. Distinguish .925 sterling florins and later base-metal coins before using the calculator. Appearance, a reflective surface or nominal diameter alone cannot prove fineness or proof status.
Understanding its metal content
One matching coin contributes 0.1818 reference fine silver troy ounce. Three contribute 0.5454 fine silver ounce and 33.9312 nominal gross grams. Nominal silver mass follows gross mass × .500; designated reference ounces retain the reference’s rounding. Count only pieces matching the actual composition and design. Worn, plated or altered pieces require separate assessment.
Dates, varieties and composition changes
Source-supported family issue years are 1920–1933, 1935–1946. Finish availability and actual designs remain type-specific.
- KM817a — crowned shields and sceptres, 1920–1926
Specific annual rows cover all seven dates, with a 1924 satin specimen separately labelled. Crowned shields form the cross and sceptres occupy its angles.
- KM834 — crowned sceptres and shields, 1927–1936
Specific rows cover 1927–1933 and 1935–1936. The 1927 entries are proof and matte proof, and later proofs are distinguished. No 1934 annual row occurs in the inspected table. The positions of sceptres and shields differ from KM817a.
- KM855 — George VI floral reverse, 1937–1946
All ten annual dates occur, with proofs separately listed. The genuine 1938 pair represents this portrait and floral design, without establishing a proof or authentication result for another coin.
Melt value versus collector value
Keep the actual reverse, date, portrait and finish with the specimen. The reference’s broad 1927–1936 type heading does not establish a 1934 issue. The 1927 proof and matte-proof entries require finish-specific attribution. A source photograph cannot determine a customer coin’s grade or collector premium. Preserve surfaces, provenance labels and any original packaging.
Authenticity and condition
Provide both complete faces, the full date and denomination, plus an edge photograph and actual measured mass/diameter where available. The genuine reference pair assists identification but does not establish authenticity, fineness or finish of your specimen. Keep unresolved pieces separate until attributed.
Selling this coin
Sort matching .500 florin / two shillings separately from sterling, other denominations, base-metal pieces and unresolved objects. The existing appraisal link preserves the chosen coin and quantity for collection details and photographs. Live dollar pricing is unavailable until a provider is approved. Reference metal content is not a purchase offer.
Sources and calculation methodology
All three included dated tables agree with the designated melt standard: 11.3104 g, .500 fineness and .1818 ASW, with 28.3-mm diameter and reeded edges. The inspected annual rows omit 1934, including proofs. Thickness and remaining alloy-metal identities are not independently verified. The photograph page’s unrelated catalogue annotation is not used to establish the coin’s the reference type. Specific annual rows and independent image permissions were inspected on 2026-10-11. The reference pair illustrates 1938 KM855 George VI florin only. Complete faces are split and converted to WebP without upscaling or invented artwork, with source and transformation credits. No reference prices, mintages or descriptive articles are copied.
Common questions
Was a .500 florin issued in 1934?
No 1934 annual row occurs in the three inspected reference tables used by this guide, including proofs. The displayed source-supported family years are 1920–1933 and 1935–1946; the broad type heading is not substituted for annual evidence.
How much reference silver do three matching coins contain?
Three matching coins contain 0.5454 fine silver troy ounce and 33.9312 nominal gross grams. Dollar value requires an approved current silver price.
Do the reference photographs authenticate my coin?
No. They show a genuine sourced design, not an authentication, grading, finish or assay result for another specimen.
References
- NGC: designated world-silver melt reference — identity; designated weight; fineness; ASW; broad date envelope (checked 2026-10-11)
- Great Britain Florin KM# 855 dated type — identity; weight; fineness; ASW; diameter; dates from actual annual rows; design (checked 2026-10-11)
- Great Britain Florin KM# 817a dated type — identity; weight; fineness; ASW; diameter; dates from actual annual rows; design (checked 2026-10-11)
- Great Britain Florin KM# 834 dated type — identity; weight; fineness; ASW; diameter; dates from actual annual rows; design (checked 2026-10-11)
- Anakin101: genuine 1938 KM855 George VI florin obverse and permission — genuine representative photograph; independent creator and reuse permission (checked 2026-10-11)
- Anakin101: genuine 1938 KM855 George VI florin reverse and permission — genuine representative photograph; independent creator and reuse permission (checked 2026-10-11)
Issue-year references
- Great Britain Florin KM# 855 dated type
- Great Britain Florin KM# 817a dated type
- Great Britain Florin KM# 834 dated type
Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-11. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.
Related coins
British Silver Half Crown — .500 Dated Types
Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.
United Kingdom • 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified
Issue years: 1920–1946
Fine silver: 0.227300 troy oz
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