Material: 50% Silver, 40% Copper, 5% Nickel, 5% Zinc
Diameter: 23.5 mm
Weight: 5.65 g
Mint / Mintmark: Royal Mint, London (no mintmark)
Obverse: This artifact displays the official obverse portrait of King George VI, designed by the celebrated royal sculptor Thomas Humphrey Paget. The monarch is depicted uncrowned with a bare head, a traditional styling choice for male British sovereigns on circulating currency. Encircled along the perimeter is the Latin inscription "GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX," which translates fully into English as "George VI, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains." The engraving captures a sharp profile with fine hair detailing and a clean neck line, framed perfectly by a classic protective dentilated rim border.
Reverse: This coin represents the distinctive "Scottish" variant of the British shilling minted under King George VI. The reverse layout features the Scottish crest, defined by a stylized lion sejant affronté perched atop the royal crown. In its paws, the lion brandishes a miniature sword and a sceptre, flanked by the split numerals of the 1941 mint date and two tiny heraldic shields representing the St. Andrew's cross and a thistle. The outer rim is encircled by the abbreviated Latin inscription "FID:DEF IND:IMP," translates to "Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India," which highlights the expansive reach of the historic British Empire during the wartime era.
Circa: 1941
Condition: Very Fine – even silver tone, good definition in lion and crown details.
Notes:
The most interesting aspect for collectors is that the Royal Mint purposely issued two parallel shilling varieties each year: an English version and this Scottish version, honoring the heritage of the Queen Consort, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Because this piece was struck mid-World War II, it is composed of 50% silver. Shortly after the war in 1947, the intense financial strain and the need to repay war debts forced Britain to completely abandon silver content in favor of base cupronickel. Additionally, the "IND:IMP" text on this coin was entirely dropped from British coinage following 1948 after India achieved independence, making this a tangible piece of vanishing imperial history.