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!

[ColdHands]

Thanks Paddy  It wasn't to you, it was to the other person. I think "CGT free" is a stumbling block to some, they infer it means "Some CGT - but not a lot!"

Google throws up all manner of garbage on this query. 

[Coys55]

15 minutes ago, ColdHands said:

Thanks Paddy  It wasn't to you, it was to the other person. I think "CGT free" is a stumbling block to some, they infer it means "Some CGT - but not a lot!"

Google throws up all manner of garbage on this query. 

I can assure you I was not being patronising and was definitely not accusing you of being evil, stupid or trying to avoid tax; I was genuinely curious about your question regarding CGT and wondered if you belived (or knew) of a legal workaround that could be beneficial to others.

If you look at my posting record I have always been welcoming to newcomers and have tried to help them with their questions. I have never been rude to anyone and don't intend to start now.

But whatever, I'll refrain from replying to this thread again.

Edited 2 hours ago by Coys55

[Paddy]

Sorry @Coys55 my comments were not aimed at you but responding to @ColdHands more general comments on patronising responses from some old hands.

I think sometimes our posts can be interpreted as more critical than they were intended!

I would be interested if the "legal tender" definition could be used to reduce the CGT burden, although I expect that battle will be down to my descendants in my case.

[ColdHands]

Hi ok no problem, if no offence meant then none taken. I'm only interested in the matter at hand.

We do need to be paying CGT in the UK, on all collectibles that appreciate in value.

The exception is the aforementioned, but l'm unsure on the exact parameters. As for decimal, there are even more exceptions, inc. all the Royal Mint CGT free coins:

 

https://www.royalmint.com/gold-price/capital-gains-tax-on-investments/

QUOTE: 

Is CGT Applicable to The Royal Mint’s Coins?

Bullion coins from The Royal Mint are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents due to their status as legal British currency. In fact, all gold, silver and platinum bullion coins produced by The Royal Mint are classed as CGT-free investments; this includes gold and silver Britannia coins, Sovereigns and the popular Queen’s Beasts range. Due to their CGT exemption, investors can make an unlimited tax-free profit on all bullion coins produced by The Royal Mint. This contrasts with the vast majority of other investments and assets, including paintings, antiques, most shares and any property other than someone’s main residence, where the profits on the sale are liable for CGT.

What If I Want to Make a High Value Purchase of Bullion Coins?

Bullion coins from The Royal Mint are never subject to CGT, regardless of the amount of coins purchased or sold. For this reason, our flagship bullion coin ranges continue to prove extremely popular with investors looking to store significant levels of wealth over the long term, as well as with those individuals seeking to realise their investment when requiring their funds for other means.

Are Other Bullion Products Subject to CGT?

CGT is chargeable on all gold, silver and platinum coins that are not produced by The Royal Mint as they are not considered to be UK legal tender. Also, all gold and silver bullion bars are also subject to CGT.

[ColdHands]

A sidenote here: Beware re-selling Royal Mint bullion coins online, they are highly sought-after and if a buyer seems fishy (low feedback, strange name e.g. referencing drugs) then cancel, because it will be trouble. The buyer will claim non-delivery, and your online marketplace may cover you but the buyer's bank will refund them your cash anyway, regardless how much evidence you procure. The root problem is delivery drivers acting as buyers, photoing the package inserted into a random letterbox (= the delivery address given) then pulling it back out and pocketting it. That's one reason some retailers give oversized packages at Xmas, as well as compact dense packages being targetted by posties. One defence is to not state which courier you will send with, so that the thieving postie won't know if you'll be using themselves to deliver. But l digress.

[Paddy]

With those statements from the RM, it seems it might be worth contacting them? They put not time limit on the production, so it reads as if all gold and silver coins produced by the Royal Mint, however long ago, are exempt! It would be great if that is the case, but I suspect not.