Silver coin checker
Which coins are silver?
Check a British coin
Silver content of UK coins
| Coin | Weight | Up to 1919 (92.5%) | 1920–1946 (50%) | From 1947 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown | 28.28g | 0.841 oz · £36.14 | 0.4546 oz · £19.53 | No silver |
| Half crown | 14.14g | 0.4205 oz · £18.07 | 0.2273 oz · £9.77 | No silver |
| Florin (two shillings) | 11.31g | 0.3364 oz · £14.45 | 0.1818 oz · £7.81 | No silver |
| Shilling | 5.66g | 0.1683 oz · £7.23 | 0.091 oz · £3.91 | No silver |
| Sixpence | 2.83g | 0.0842 oz · £3.62 | 0.0455 oz · £1.95 | No silver |
| Threepence (silver) | 1.41g | 0.0419 oz · £1.80 | 0.0227 oz · £0.97 | No silver |
Melt values at today's silver price of £42.97 an ounce. Maundy money stayed silver after 1946 (sterling again from 1947).
Silver coin questions
Which British coins are silver?
Crowns, half crowns, florins, shillings, sixpences and silver threepences. Dated up to 1919 they are 92.5% silver (sterling); from 1920 to 1946 50% silver; from 1947 cupro-nickel with no silver. The brass 12-sided threepenny bit (1937–1967) was never silver.
Are pre-decimal coins worth anything?
Pre-1947 silver coins are always worth at least their silver: a 1920-46 half crown is worth £9.77 in silver today, a pre-1920 one £18.07. Most 1947–1967 coins are worth face value to a few pounds unless they are a rare date or in mint condition.
Is the 1977 Silver Jubilee coin real silver?
The ordinary 1977 Jubilee crowns (in plastic or card packs) are cupro-nickel and worth about £1–£3. Only the silver proof version, sold in a blue Royal Mint box with a certificate, is 92.5% silver (0.841 oz). See 1977 Jubilee silver proof prices.
Which £2 and 50p coins are silver?
None that you find in change. The Royal Mint strikes special silver proof and piedfort versions for collectors, sold boxed with a certificate: see silver proof coins.