Silver content in 1816+ coins

[Alan Parry]

I have been led to believe that when silver coins were reminted from 1816 the silver content was reduced and replaced with cupro-nickel.

I collect coins that I dig up so their quality is measured in worn smooth through to worthless!

I have noticed that silver coins dated 1816 still appear to be silver, whereas silver coins dated afterwards have lost most of the silver and appear like copper coins.

Is this beacuse the first, 1816, mintings still had higer silver content and this was lowered in subsequent years or are all the later silver coins I find forgeries? (seems a coincidence).

I attach a picture of an 1816 and 1818 shilling for comparison.

Thanks.

[Alan Parry]

Picture (hopefully)

[Red Riley]

Picture (hopefully)

Silver from 1816 up to 1919/20 (depends on denomination) was sterling i.e. 0.925 silver. From 1920 to 1946 the silver content was reduced to 0.500 and from 1947 the 'silver' coins were all cupro-nickel (except Maundy issues). Prior to 1816 the silver content varied but latterly sterling prevailed. Therefore, anything you dig up prior to 1947, however manky, will have some silver content and therefore some value. Forgeries do exist, but they are not as common as might be supposed and virtually everything you discover will be the real McCoy.

[scottishmoney]

Most of the silver plated copper forgeries found today were produced during the period of 1810-1820, when coins were in short supply anyway. Often times the Bank of England 18 Pence and Three Shillings coins of 1813 were counterfeited, probably by people thinking the authorities would not prosecute as heartily as if they were coins of the realm.