Material: .500 Silver (50% Ag, 50% Cu) — First year of debasement from Sterling Silver
Diameter: 23.5 mm
Weight: 5.66 g
Actual Silver Weight (ASW): 0.091 troy oz
Mint / Mintmark: London (no mintmark)
Obverse: This standard circulation 1920 United Kingdom pre-decimal one shilling coin is struck from a silver alloy. The obverse features the left-facing, uncrowned bare head portrait of King George V, originally modeled by Australian sculptor Sir Edgar Bertram MacKennal. A highly defined denticle ring borders the outer rim, framing the formal Latin imperial legend reading "GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX". The coin’s surface displays a heavily circulated, matte gray appearance with extensive handling wear that has softened the fine details of the king's mustache and hair, accompanied by an organic dark patina nestled within the low-relief letter fields.
Reverse: Crowned lion standing atop the royal crown; legend FID: DEF: IND: IMP: ONE SHILLING 1920; design by George Kruger Gray.
Circa: Early Interwar Period (post-WWI)
Condition: Fine
Notes:
The year 1920 marks one of the most critical turning points in British numismatic history because it represents the exact moment the Royal Mint abandoned centuries of sterling silver (.925 purity) production. Due to the astronomical skyrocketing costs of silver bullion following World War I, the British government passed the Coinage Act of 1920, drastically debasing all silver denominations down to a 50% (.500) alloy.