List of UK legal tender coins (especially silver)

[ColdHands]

Hi, l'm kind of new to this.

I'm trying to find a list of UK silver (and other metals) coins that are still legal tender today.

So, l'm particularly interested in anything pre-1947.

Am l right to say all Crowns are legal tender, as well as the QV Double Florin?

Or is it actually all denominations?

 

I have tried to Google it but it feels like no list exists. The search results are often wide of the mark.

 

 

[ozjohn]

3 hours ago, ColdHands said:

Hi, l'm kind of new to this.

I'm trying to find a list of UK silver (and other metals) coins that are still legal tender today.

So, l'm particularly interested in anything pre-1947.

Am l right to say all Crowns are legal tender, as well as the QV Double Florin?

Or is it actually all denominations?

 

I have tried to Google it but it feels like no list exists. The search results are often wide of the mark.

 

 

Cannot comment on predecimal UK silver coins as they have all changed size. However Australian silver coins florin, shilling and sixpence still remain in the same format as the old imperial coins. With the florin now 20 cent, shilling 10 cent and sixpence 5 cent. 

However sovereigns and half-sovereigns are deemed to not be legal tender for some reason although sovereigns etc. were minted in Australia at Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. because of this they attract a 10% GST (VAT). Pure gold coins do not attract GST.

[wlewisiii]

My understanding, which is likely to be wildly wrong, is that it's pretty much only the Crowns, Double Florins & various Sovereigns that are officially legal tender. I must admit, I'd enjoy seeing a shop keeper presented with a fugly 1965 Churchill crown for a 25 p debt! The look on his face would be amusing, I'm certain. 

[ColdHands]

Thank you. I think Maundy Money may still be legal in the UK too, but from what year onward?

I'm not planning to pay anybody in legal face value, l'm asking for Capital Gains Tax purposes.

[Nick]

Legal tender has a pretty narrow defintion.  It basically means what can be used to settle a debt, in the absence of contracted payment terms.  Here is a snippet from the Bank of England website:

"So, what counts as legal tender?

It varies throughout the UK. In England and Wales, it is Royal Mint coins and Bank of England notes. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, it is only Royal Mint coins and not banknotes.

There are also some restrictions when using small coins. For example, 1p and 2p coins only count as legal tender for any amount up to 20p. And 5p and 10p coins only count for any amount up to £5. But £1 and £2 coins count as legal tender for any amount."

[ColdHands]

Hi okay but l need a specific list of silver coins at least.

From what l can tell, as seemingly agreed upon by @wlewisiii, we have:

SILVER, PRE-1947:

- All crowns (CLARIFICATION NEEDED: l'm presuming since the Great Recoinage of 1816, right?)

- Double florin

- Some sovereigns - CLARIFICATION NEEDED: specifics needed (though they aren't something l'm really interested in personally, it'd be nice to have a list)

- Maundy money (CLARIFICATION NEEDED: l'm presuming since the Great Recoinage of 1816, right?)

 

 

Edited Saturday at 08:50 PM by ColdHands

[Coys55]

On 3/7/2026 at 1:57 PM, ColdHands said:

Thank you. I think Maundy Money may still be legal in the UK too, but from what year onward?

I'm not planning to pay anybody in legal face value, l'm asking for Capital Gains Tax purposes.

Just out of interest, are you going to attempt to convince HMRC that (for instance) an 1847 proof gothic crown is only worth 25p for CGT purposes because it's legal tender and you could use it in Tesco to buy a couple of spuds?

[ColdHands]

No, l want to skim them at ducklings and hopefully bring home some meat. 

Still though, how did you guess l was trying to do evil?

By the way, do you feel it's moral and welcoming to straight up ask someone if they are evil and / or dumb?

Most importantly: Any answers to my actual questions?

This is a new forum for me but l'm hoping it doesn't devolve into bored regulars vs. newbs. It always boils down to "We are just trying to HELP you (by insulting you) you IDIOT!"

[Paddy]

10 hours ago, ColdHands said:

This is a new forum for me but l'm hoping it doesn't devolve into bored regulars vs. newbs. It always boils down to "We are just trying to HELP you (by insulting you) you IDIOT!"

I recognise the problem and try to be as straightforward as possible when responding to newbie queries. I try to think back to when I was the newbie and how daft some of my questions must have seemed to the old and bold here! It is easy, when you know a lot about a subject, to be patronising to the less well informed, but unless the new collectors are encouraged, the hobby will just die out.

Bear in mind that for every patronising comment made, there are many more here who are supportive and encouraging.

As to your query on legal tender - if I knew the answer I would be happy to give it!