1816 British George III Bull Head Silver Shilling

A very nice condition example of an 1816 George III Silver Shilling.

The obverse shows the 'Bull Head' portrait of King George III by Benedetto Pistrucci, which the king hated and had changed by 1820. It shows the laureate head facing right, with the date below and the surrounding Latin legend: GEOR : III D:G : BRITT : REX F:D : . The reverse shows the crowned coat-of-arms within the Collar of the Order of the Garter. Very fine, with proof like toning.

This shilling is one of the first shillings produced due to the Coinage Act of 1816, intended to reform the coinage so that it could be mass-produced cost-effectively, and in enough quantity to resolve the coin shortage that had plagued Britain for nearly half a century.

Size: 23 mm (7/8 inch)
Weight: 5.5g