History Florin (British coin)

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 victorian issues (1849–1901)
1.3 edward vii (1901–1910)
1.4 george v (1910–1936)
1.5 edward viii (1936)
1.6 george vi (1936–1952)
1.7 elizabeth ii (struck 1953–1970)

history
background

the drive decimalisation of currency in britain dates far 1682. although nothing done regarding proposals, adoption of decimal currency in united states, france , other nations in late 18th , 19th centuries renewed call, , commissions in 1841 , 1843 called adoption. in 1847, motion introduced in parliament sir john bowring calling introduction of decimal currency , striking of coins of one-tenth , one-hundredth of pound. bowring obtained surprisingly strong support motion, , russell government promised coin valued @ one-tenth of pound (two shillings) produced test public opinion, consideration in future given introduction of other decimal coins.

there discussion coin should called—centum, decade, , dime being among suggestions—before florin settled upon, not because of old english coin of name, because netherlands had florin, or gulden, of size , value.

victorian issues (1849–1901)

the 1849 godless florin

the first florins struck in 1849. in gothic style, , featured portrait of queen victoria young woman, crowned cruciform shields of united kingdom shown on reverse, , nations emblems in angles. new florin closely resembles gothic crown of 1847; obverse both designed chief engraver of royal mint, william wyon, while reverse of both designed william dyce. unlike crown s gothic script, 1849 florin has roman lettering. 1849 florin, issued in silver, weighed 11.3 grams , had diameter of 28 millimetres. new coin made clear value inscription 1 florin 1 tenth of pound on reverse. aid in decimal experiment, half crown (two shillings , sixpence, or one-eighth of pound), near florin in size , value, not issued between 1850 , 1874, when struck again @ request of banks, , surveys found both coins played useful parts in commerce. each continue struck, , circulate together, until decimalisation.

these first coins shock public, first time in 200 years british coin featured portrait of monarch wearing crown. more of shock, including (allegedly) queen victoria herself, inscription on obverse, victoria regina 1849, omitting usual d g dei gratia (by grace of god) coin s inscription. resulted in being known godless florin . further controversy caused omission of usual abbreviation f d fidei defensor (defender of faith): master of mint, richard lalor sheil, irishman , roman catholic, suspected of plotting overthrow protestant regime. inscription had in fact been suggested albert, prince consort, victoria s husband. sheil stated in house of commons inscription had been mistake, , florin redesigned next issue in 1851.

the revised florin s diameter increased 30 millimetres (the weight unchanged), , lettering on coin in gothic script, resulting in being known gothic florin. coin same designers; date rendered in roman numerals. bust of victoria , heraldry on reverse largely unchanged. latin inscription on obverse read victoria d g brit reg f d date, while reverse read 1 florin 1 tenth of pound. despite royal commission, drive decimalisation died out; there lukewarm support 1855 motion in commons applauding issuance of florin , seeking further decimal coins. gothic florin produced each year until 1887, excepting 1861 , 1882. 1864 until 1879, many florins struck die numbers on obverse (found right of victoria s brooch, possibly part of mint investigation how long took coinage dies wear out. beginning 1867 issues, brit on obverse rendered britt, following latin practice in abbreviations of doubling final consonant plural. thus, victoria s title changed queen of britain queen of britains , including colonies , other territories.

in 1887, part of coinage redesign victoria s golden jubilee, new obverse design, showing queen older woman, debuted on gold , silver coinage. dubbed jubilee head , sir joseph boehm. various flora removed florin s reverse , replaced sceptres between shields garter star in centre. jubilee head proved unpopular, due in part crown worn queen, deemed ridiculously small. jubilee florin shared reverse short-lived double florin, gertrude rawlings in 1898 described radiating kitchen pokers , tea trays . reverse design created , engraved leonard charles wyon (who engraved obverse), though influenced gold coinage of charles ii designed john roettier. diameter reduced 29.5 millimetres. inscriptions in latin letters , arabic numerals. inscription on obverse read victoria dei gratia, while reverse read fid def britt reg, no indication of value. jubilee florin struck each year between 1887 , 1892.

1899 florin designed sir edward poynter

given unpopularity of jubilee bust, committee set in february 1891 recommend new designs. obverse designed thomas brock selected, , committee recommended new reverses. advisory committee recommended different bust (also brock) used on florin distinguish half crown. recommendation not accepted, , florin used same veiled head or old head obverse introduced silver , gold coinage in 1893. better distinguish half crown, diameter reduced 29 28.5 mm. obverse inscribed victoria dei gra britt regina fid def ind imp, new reverse showing 3 shields separated rose, shamrock, , thistle (symbolising england, scotland , ireland) under crown, , inscription 1 florin 2 shillings. reverse created sir edward poynter, , issued each year between 1893 , 1901, year of victoria s death.

edward vii (1901–1910)

both sides of florin redesigned following accession of victoria s son, edward vii, each design being created chief engraver of royal mint, george william de saulles. florin of king edward vii minted every year 1902 1910. specifications remained @ 11.3 grams weight , 28.5 millimetres diameter. obverse shows right-facing head of king, inscribed edwardvs vii dei gra britt omn rex fd ind imp,, while other side features coincraft s standard catalogue of english , uk coins deems unusual , original reverse . shows windswept figure of britannia standing holding shield left hand , trident right, , inscribed 1 florin 2 shillings, date below. peter seaby, in history of british coinage, described figure of britannia standing on mythical ancient ship hardly sea-worthy under weight , pleasing composition .

de saulles created new florin in manner distinguish coin half crown, there had been complaints of confusion. based design on british trade dollar (1895). sitter design susan hicks-beach, daughter of michael hicks-beach, 1st earl st aldwyn had served chancellor of exchequer , ex officio master of mint. modern-day britannia coinage, bullion pieces struck royal mint investors , collectors, has reverse resembles of edwardian florin.

george v (1910–1936)

the 1932 florin

florins bearing left-facing effigy of george v sir bertram mackennal minted in each year of king s reign (1910–1936) except 1910 , 1934. initial reverse design (1911–1926) developed internally @ royal mint, , intended of 1887 double florin, jubilee florin similar. weight , diameter of coin unchanged but, because of rises in price of silver, metallic composition changed in 1920 0.925 silver 50% silver, 40% copper, 10% nickel, again in 1922 50% silver, 50% copper, , again in 1927 50% silver, 40% copper, 5% nickel, 5% zinc. changes in alloy after 1920 due mint trying find silver alloy remain attractive wore. inscriptions on obverse of original version of george v florin georgivs v d g britt omn rex f d ind imp , on reverse 1 florin , year of striking.

the modified florin, dated 1927 1936, designed george kruger gray , did not alter design of shields , sceptres, removed crowns shields , placed them on sceptres. g , king s initial, @ centre of design. obverse inscription became georgivs v dei gra britt omn rex , reverse 1 fid def ind imp date , denomination 1 florin. bust of king on obverse modified in 1927.

edward viii (1936)

throughout 1936, year in edward viii reigned, coins of denominations continued struck using designs of george v, pending preparation of new monarch s coinage. no coins depicting edward viii officially released circulation. pattern florin exists king edward, have been due receive approval around time king abdicated in december 1936. although there tradition of alternating direction monarch faces each reign, , george v had faced left, edward believed side more flattering. thus, obverse depicts left-facing effigy of king thomas humphrey paget inscribed edwardvs viii d g br omn rex. reverse, kruger gray, shows crowned rose flanked thistle , shamrock, e below thistle , r below shamrock, , inscription fid def ind imp , 2 shillings 1937.

george vi (1936–1952)

king george vi s florin, produced each year between 1937 , 1951, looks 1 planned brother edward viii. on patterns king edward, words 1 florin omitted; remain absent coin s remaining existence. obverse, thomas humphrey paget, shows left-facing effigy of king inscribed georgivs vi d g br omn rex. reverse, kruger gray, depicts crowned rose thistle , shamrock on either side. there g below thistle , r below shamrock, , inscription fid def ind imp 2 shillings date until 1948. 1949, coins struck without ind imp, in acknowledgement of india s independence. 1947, metal content changed, british silver circulating coins, 75% copper, 25% nickel. due need britain return lend-lease silver united states. florin s diameter , weight remained unchanged @ 11.3 grams , 28.5 millimetres, despite change of alloy.

elizabeth ii (struck 1953–1970)

florins produced queen elizabeth ii each year between 1953 , 1967, proof coins struck dated 1970. obverse shows mary gillick head of queen elizabeth, inscribed elizabeth ii dei gratia britt omn regina (1953 only) or elizabeth ii dei gratia regina (all other years). change made acknowledge evolving british commonwealth, contained republics. reverse, edgar fuller , cecil thomas, depicts tudor rose in centre surrounded thistles, shamrocks , leeks, latin phrase fid def, denomination , date. designs selected royal mint advisory committee following public competition. artists initials appear either side of welsh leek @ bottom of reverse. when reverse of new coin illustrated in press, there no consensus way up; numismatist h.w.a. linecar has noted second l in shillings marks bottom of coin.

in accordance plan decimalisation of currency (120 years after denomination first introduced in initial plan introduce decimal currency), 1968 ten pence coin introduced of same size, weight , metal composition florin. thus, florin ceased struck circulation after 1967-dated pieces. new , old circulated side side florins prior decimal day (15 february 1971) , ten pence pieces after.

florins (usually dated 1947 or later) remained in circulation after decimal day. in 1987, following study of currency, thatcher government announced intent issue new ten pence piece, reduced in size. smaller ten pence piece issued in 1992, after old florin demonetised on 30 june 1993. florin, first decimal coin, last coin in general circulation prior decimalisation withdrawn.

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