Pre-Decimal Silver Coin Valuation Calculator
Calculate the value of your pre-1947 silver coins today and sell them online.
The Britannia Coin Company is a UK's leading online coin buyer. That means we buy a lot of pre-1947 silver coins. But what's so special about silver coins minted before 1947? And how do you know what your silver coins are worth? Our Pre-Decimal Silver Coin Valuation Calculator can help.
Pre-Decimal Silver Coins Explained
Have you ever wondered what your old loose change is worth? If your coins were minted before 1947, it might be more than you think. In the past, British coins were made of precious metals like gold and silver. This means that old money can be worth much more than its face value.
For centuries, the Royal Mint made their silver coins from sterling silver: an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver. From 1920 the amount of silver in British coins was reduced to 50%. The silver content was entirely removed from 1947 and coins were instead made of silver-coloured cupronickel.
If you have Crowns, Half-Crowns, Florins, Shillings, Sixpences, or Three Penny Pieces with a pre-1947 date on them, they likely contain a significant amount of silver. Regardless of the condition of your coins, their silver content makes them valuable and we're eager to buy them from you.
The History of British Silver Coins
Silver coins were part of British currency for more than two millennia. If you're thinking of selling your silver coins, it's important to understand their history. When your coins were minted can tell you how much pure silver they contain and, therefore, how much they are worth.
- 1154
Henry II becomes King of England. During his reign, earlier pure silver coins would be replaced with stronger sterling silver coins, made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. - 1551
Tudor King Edward VI increases the fineness of his silver coins after decades of debasem*nt. Britain would return to the sterling standard under his sister Mary I. - 1816
Britain has won the Napoleonic Wars at enormous cost. Economic stability is achieved through re-coinage, which establishes a standard weight-value ratio for silver coins. - 1920
The silver content in British coins is reduced from 92.5% to 50%, in response to a rise in the price of silver bullion. The remaining weight is made up of copper and nickel. - 1947
Silver is needed to repay the USA for debts incurred during World War Two. The metal is removed from British coins altogether and replaced with silver-coloured cupronickel. - 1971
Decimalisation: the Shilling and Sixpence are abolished and new 5p, 10p and 50p coins are introduced. The Crown, Half-Crown and Florin had already ceased to be minted. - 1992
New decimal coins are initially minted in the same size as older silver coins. In 1992, more convenient smaller coins are introduced. It’s these that you’ll find in your change today.
Value Your Pre-Decimal Silver Coins
At the Britannia Coin Company, we want to make selling your pre-1947 silver coins simple. We also want to offer you the best price. Our online Pre-Decimal Silver Coin Value Calculator means you can get a quick and accurate valuation from your sofa. We make selling your silver coins fuss-free.
Our valuations are based on the weight of your silver coins. If you've got a set of scales, all you need to do is sort your coins by date, weigh them, and input the figure into our calculator. Make sure you separate pre-1920 and pre-1947 coins and select the correct coin era for an accurate price.
Our Pre-Decimal Silver Coin Value Calculator will generate an instant quote, based on live silver price per gram rates. It's straightforward, fair, and guarantees you an up to the minute valuation, based on the markets. When you have the value, simply click 'Add' to proceed to checkout. It's that simple.
Get The Best Price For Your Pre-1947 Silver Coins
How do you know you're getting a good deal from the Britannia Coin Company? We make it easy to compare our price with your local coin dealer. If they can offer a better price, our Pre-Decimal Silver Coin Value Calculator will tell you. That way, you can make an informed decision.
If you're shopping around, you'll often find prices based on multiples of the same face value. For instance, you might be quoted a price for eight pre-1947 Shillings or twenty pre-1920 Sixpences. As our valuations are based on weight, making a direct comparison might seem difficult.
If you want to compare our prices with another deal, use the 'Calculate by Face Value' and 'Calculate by Denomination' tabs to compare like for like. Our tool means you can make an unbiased comparison. We're confident our prices are competitive but it pays to do your research.
Calculate Pre-1947 Silver Coin Weight
Our calculator works best when you know the weight of your Pre-1947 coins. Simply weigh, enter the figure and go. But what if you don't have a set of scales? No problem. You can still estimate the weight of your silver coins because each type of coin has a standard weight.
| Pre-decimal Silver Coin | Weight |
|---|---|
| Crown | 28.28 grams |
| Half-Crown | 14.14 grams |
| Florin | 11.31 grams |
| Shilling | 5.65 grams |
| Sixpence (6d) | 2.83 grams |
| Three pence (3d) | 1.4 grams |
Coins wear down over the years, so old silver coins may weigh a little less than when they were first minted. Still, if you know the standard, fresh off the press weight, you can make a calculation to figure out the approximate total weight of your silver coins. Here's how:
- If you have coins from before 1920 and after, separate them into two piles: one for 1919 and earlier and another for 1920 to 1946.
- Sort your coins by denomination: make piles for Crowns, Half-Crowns, Florins, Shillings, Sixpences and Three Penny Pieces if you have them.
- With each of these smaller piles, times the number of coins by the weight listed in the table above. So, if you have twelve Florins, calculate 12 x 11.31.
- Repeat this process for each denomination then add all the totals together to get the total weight of your silver coins.
- Input that figure into our Pre-Decimal Silver Coin Value Calculator, making separate valuations for your pre-1920 and pre-1947 coins. Simple as that.
Find The Face Value of Pre-Decimal Coins
If you want a price based on the face value of your silver coins, simply switch to the 'Calculate by Face Value' tab. This will give you the option to input the stated value of your silver coins in Pounds, Shillings and Pence. Not confident using old money? Don't worry. Here's what to do:
- Separate your pre-1920 silver coins from those dated 1920-1946 then sort by denomination.
- Starting with the highest denomination, sort your coins into £1 piles, checking the table below to see how many of each coin make a Pound.
- When you don't have sufficient coins left to make a Pound, count up how many Shillings your coins can make – it should be 19 or less.
- When you no longer have enough coins to make a Shilling, count up how many Three Penny Pieces you have left – there should be no more than three.
- Voila! The number of Pounds, Shillings and Pence your collection divides into gives you the total. Input this into the Pre-Decimal Silver Coin Value Calculator for a price.
| Pre-decimal Silver Coins | Number in Pound | Number in Shilling |
|---|---|---|
| Crown | 4 | - |
| Half-Crown | 8 | - |
| Florin | 10 | - |
| Shilling | 20 | - |
| Sixpence (6d) | 40 | 2 |
| Threepence (3d) | 80 | 4 |
A Clear Price For Pre-Decimal Coins
Is this making your head spin? That's alright. You can also calculate the value of your pre-1947 silver coins by denomination. Simply sort your coins by type, switch to the 'Calculate by Denomination' tab, and enter the number you have of each. No need to worry about old money maths!
Whichever method you use, you still need to make separate calculations based on the age of your coins. Pre-1920 silver coins are worth more than those made between 1920 and 1947, so remember to check the date and select the right time period for an accurate valuation.
Still confused? Just get in touch. We're happy to answer your questions by phone, email or chat. Our staff have decades of experience buying and selling coins and we're pleased to explain any part of the process to you. Drop us a line and we'll help you get a great price for your silver coins.
