Thanks to Prince Harry, Princess Diana, and all the drama around the Windsors, the world is familiar with the British Monarchy. But did you know almost 50 contemporary nations have kings and queens including Spain, Norway, Lesotho, Belgium, Thailand, and Tonga? For now let’s look at one English monarch and his associated currency, the King George V Coin Value.
| King George V Coin Value Price Chart | |||||
| Coin | Face Value | Metal | Year | Grade | Price |
| King George V Farthing | One Farthing (1/4 of a Penny) | Bronze | 1920 | Uncirculated | £20 ($25) |
| King George V Penny | One Penny (1/240 of a Pound) | Bronze | 1918 and 1919 (KN or H) | MS 65 | $3,000 |
| King George V Threepence | 3 Pence (1/4 of a Shilling) | Silver | 1936 | Uncirculated | £25 ($31) |
| King George V Maundy Money | Set Containing 1, 2, 3, and 4 Pence | Silver | 1921 | Proof | £350 ($438) |
| King George V Sixpence | 6 Pence (Half a Shilling) | Silver | 1927 | Circulated | £6 to £9 ($7.50 to $11) |
| King George V Trial Shilling | 12 pence (1/20 of a Pound) | Nickel | 1924 | MS 65 | £5,495 ($6,840) |
| King George V Shilling | 12 Pence (1/2o of a Pound) | Silver | 1927 | Proof | $75 |
| King George V Florin | 2 Shillings (1/10 of a Pound) | Silver | 1927 | PF 66 | £495 ($616) |
| King George V Half Crown | 2 Shillings and 6 Pence | Silver | 1927 | PF 66 | £495 ($616) |
| King George V Wreath Crown | 5 Shillings (25 Pence) (1/4 of a Pound) | Silver | 1927 | PF 66 | £995 ($1,238) |
| King George V Rocking Horse Crown | 5 Shillings (25 Pence) (1/4 of a Pound) | Silver | 1935 | PF 64 | £2,730 ($3,400) |
| King George V Half Sovereign | 10 Shillings (50 Pence) (Half a Sterling Pound) | Gold | 1926 | EF | £440 ($548) |
| King George V Sovereign | 1 Sterling Pound Worth of Gold | Gold | 1917 | EF | £30,000 ($37,500) |
| King George V Five Pound Sovereign | 5 Sterling Pounds Worth of Gold | Gold | 1911 | PF 61 | £13,585 ($16,900) |
History of the King George V Coins
King George V ruled the UK and its colonies from 1910 to 1936. His grandmother was Queen Victoria, and his granddaughter was Queen Elizabeth II. His full name was George Frederick Ernest Albert, and he was actually a Spare (3rd in line to the throne). But when his brother died of the flu at 28, George married his brother’s betrothed, had 6 kids, and became King.
During this period, currency was still cast from specie metals i.e. silver and gold. Each coin had a melt value that matched its face value, so the price of the coin was equal to its weight. Today, the UK uses pounds and pence as their currency. This was initially based on Sterling Pounds (£) that comprised 92.7% of pure silver plus 7.5% of copper or another base metal.
Coins were minted in London, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Ottawa, London, and South Africa. They were inscribed Georgivs V D. G. Britt. Omn. Rex. F. D. Ind. Imp, short for Dei Gratia Britanniarum Omnium Rex Fidei Defensor Indiae Imperator. This translates to George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
Also check American Buffalo Gold Coin Investment.
Features of the King George V Coins
Today, you can buy King George V coins directly from the Royal Mint in the UK. Their prices are stated on the website, but buyers outside the UK can sometimes spend more at auctions. It comes down to supply and demand, as well as the drama and wait times of shipping. Coins might also cost more due to insurance and prestige. Now let’s look at specific UK coin rates.
During this reign, the UK had coin denominations ranging from the sovereign to the penny. Let’s look at each King George V coin value and its estimated price. Because there are so many, we’re going to sample coins from various years to gauge their going rate in today’s market. The figures below are based on Royal Mint listings in June 2023, converted to USD.
Obverse of King George V Coins
Outside the UK, the obverse (heads side) of King George V coins always showed him in his crown. But in Britain, the obverse showed a crownless bust of King George V facing left. The designer’s initials, BM for Bernard Mackennal, were inscribed at the neckline cut-off. The coin has denticles along the rim, followed by the standard inscription in abbreviated Latin.
King George V Farthing
Farthings are worth ¼ penny, 48 farthings make a shilling, and 20 shillings make £1. They were phased out in 1961, but you’ll find small coins like Half-Pennies on Coin Value Checker.
Reverse of the King George V Farthing
The tails side features Brittania, a female warrior that personifies Britain. She faces right and has a trident, a shield, and a helmet. Farthing is at the top and the mint date is at the bottom.
Other Features of the King George V Farthing
A farthing weighs 2.83g (0.1oz or 0.01lb), is 20.19mm in diameter (0.79”), and 0.7mm thick (0.03”). It has a plain edge and was initially pure copper but later changed to bronze in 1860.
Value of the King George V Farthing
Depending on the year and grade, a King George V Farthing ranges from £1 to £24 ($1.25 to $30). A 1917 AU Farthing is £8 (about $10) while a 1922 BU could sell for £24 (roughly $30).
King George V Penny
Initially, a penny was 1/240 of a Sterling Pound, but that changed to 1/100 in 1966. It was a large bronze coin measuring 30.8mm in diameter (1.21”). It weighed 9.45g (0.33oz, 0.02lb).
Reverse of the King George V Penny
The reverse (tails side) of circulating King George V pennies are identical to farthings except they say One Penny. They show Brittania facing right, on a huge rock perched on the ocean.
Value of the King George V Penny
Some 1912, 1918, and 1919 Pennies were outsourced to Heaton Mint (H). Others from 1918 and 1919 had KN for King’s Norton Mint. 1918/1919 MS 65 KN and H Pennies are $3,000.
King George V Threepence
All King George V silver coins had two variants. They were Sterling Silver from 1911 to 1919. From 1920 to 1936, that reduced to 50% silver and 50% copper. 3p was nicknamed the Joey.
Reverse of the King George V Threepence
It shows three oak sprigs, three leaves, and three acorns arranged in a triangle. The top says Three Pence and the bottom shows the year. The G in the middle is for George Kruger Gray.
Value of the King George V Threepence
Regardless of their melt value, King George V Threepence coins weighed 1.4g and measured 16.2mm with a plain edge. Prices range from £5 to £25 based on grading and silver content.
King George V Sixpence
The Sixpence is a pretty coin that upgraded the aesthetics of the threepence. It’s worth half a shilling and like all silver coins, had half-silver and sterling versions based on the mint date.
Reverse of the King George V Sixpence
It shows three Y-shaped sprigs with two leaves and two acorns each. The bases of the fork form a triangle with KG in the middle. Six Pence is at the top. The Year AD is at the bottom.
Other Features of the King George V Sixpence
The A and D are on either side of the mint date, and the KG is for designer George Kruger Gray. It weighed 2.83g and measured 19.41mm. It was a milled coin with a reeded edge.
Value of the King George V Sixpence
The current cost of a King George V Sixpence ranges from £6 to £9 ($7.50 to $11). Like the other silver coins, some had 50% silver and others had 92.5% silver. The rest was copper.
King George V Maundy Money
Starting in 1670, select seniors attended a special Maundy Thursday church ceremony where the King or Queen gave them a special set of four sterling silver coins i.e. 1, 2, 3, and 4 pence.
Reverse of the King George V Maundy Money
The reverse (tails side) of Maundy Money showed the face value flanked by the mint date, framed by an oak wreath, and topped by the classic crown design of Jean Baptiste Merlen.
Value of the King George V Maundy Money
Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday, and these coins were always Sterling Silver.
- Penny – 0.47g, 11mm
- Twopence – 0.94g, 13mm
- Threepence – 1.41g, 16mm
- Fourpence – 1.89g, 18mm
A 1920 King George V Maundy Money Proof Set is approximately £350 ($438) in June 2023.
King George V Shilling
Originally called the testoon, the King George V Shilling is worth 12 pence. Twenty of them make a Sterling Pound. It was nicknamed the bob and stopped being legal tender in 1990.
Reverse of the King George V Shilling
It had a lion standing on a crossed crown with Fid Def on one side and Ind Imp on the other i.e. Defender of Faith and Indian Emperor. The date and denomination are on the lower rim.
Other Features of the King George V Shilling
Most shillings were half-silver or sterling, but a few experimental ones were coined in nickel. Both had reeded edges. The silver one weighed 5.66g, was 23.5mm across, and 1.6mm thick.
Value of the King George V Shilling
A King George V Trial Shilling in MS 65 is worth £5,495 ($6,840). Prices for the Silver King George V Shilling are much lower, at $75 for a 1927 proof and $71 for an Uncirculated 1936.
King George V Florin
In the UK, a Florin was a 2-Shilling coin that equated to 24 pence or one-tenth of a pound. They stopped making it in 1970, and it had both Sterling Silver and 50% Silver coin types.
Reverse of the King George V Florin
It changed a lot, but during King George V’s reign, it showed the shields and scepters of Ireland, Scotland, and England arranged to form a cross. England’s emblems appeared twice.
Other Features of the King George V Florin
The top of the coin reads Fid Def Ind Imp and the bottom has the date and denomination. The coin weighed 11.3g and measured 28.3mm. George Kruger Gray designed the tails side.
Value of the King George V Florin
In PF 66, a 1927 King George V Florin sells for £495 ($616) but only £250 in PF 63 ($311). But circulating coins are much cheaper, ranging from £17.50 to £24.40 for F-graded florins.
King George V Half Crown
A Half Crown is weird to convert since it comes to 2 Shillings and 6 Pence or Two and Six. It’s easier to think of it as 30 Pence. But it gets puzzling with the modern decimal system.
Reverse of the King George V Half Crown
It shows a 4-in-1 shield where English emblems are doubled with the Ireland and Scotland coats of arms in the other quarters. Some years have royal ciphers, others have side sashes.
Value of the King George V Half Crown
Like Crown Coins, the top says Fid Def Ind Imp and the bottom displays the denomination and the date. A PF 66 King George V Half Crown sells for £495, which works out to $616.
King George V Wreath Crown
A Crown is worth 5 Shillings, or a quarter of a pound. You can easily recognize the circulating version because it has both the word and the image. It has 92.5% and 50% silver variants.
Reverse of the King George V Wreath Crown
Half the King’s title moves to the tails side – Fid Def Ind Imp. It has its face value, Crown, plus a crown device wrapped in a wreath. The date flanks the crown with KG at the bottom.
Value of the King George V Wreath Crown
KG is for the designer, George Kruger Gray. The coin weighs 28.28g and is 38.6mm across. Uncirculated, a 1928 King George V Crown is £495 ($616). And a PF 66 can be £995 (1,238).
King George V Rocking Horse Crown
In 1935, the King marked his Silver Jubilee, meaning he had ruled for 25 years. They minted a strangely designed commemorative coin to celebrate this feat. The following year, he died.
Reverse of the King George V Rocking Horse Crown
It shows a childlike version of St. George slaying the dragon, designed by Percy Metcalfe. PM is on the lower right. St. George’s sword points straight up with Crown and 1935 flanking it.
Other Features of the King George V Rocking Horse Crown
This coin falls into the 50% silver category brought on by rising silver costs. It has a Latin inscription on the edge, Decus Et Tutamen. Anno Regni XXV. It was 38mm and worth 5 bob.
Value of the King George V Rocking Horse Crown
This coin was only minted for one year. It goes for £44.50 ($55) in VF, £59.50 in EF, and £79.50 Uncirculated. They released 2,500 Proofs that can sell for £2,730 in PF 64 ($3,400).
King George V Sovereign
The King George V Sovereign was a gold coin equivalent to £1 Sterling aka 1 Pound of Sterling Silver (1lb). The earliest versions from 199 to 1913 had a slightly smaller portrait.
Reverse of the King George V Sovereign
It shows St. George on horseback with a sword and cape as he tramples a dragon. The mint date is at the bottom of the coin followed by the designer’s initials, BP (Benedetto Pistrucci).
Other Features of the King George V Sovereign
The King George V Sovereign was pure 22-carat gold. It was 22.05mm in diameter (0.87″) and weighed 7.98g (0.28oz or 0.02lb). You can also collect the 10-year Half Sovereign coins.
Value of the King George V Sovereign
The price of a King George V Sovereign depends on its year, grade, and rarity. Common years range from £500 to £2,000, but the priciest one is from 1917, currently worth $37,500 in EF.
King George V Five Pound Sovereign
As its name suggests, this gold coin is worth £5 of Sterling Silver. It weighs 39.94g and is 36mm across (1.42”). It shares the design of the Gold Sovereign but is proportionally bigger.
Value of the King George V Five Pound Sovereign
The coin was minted to commemorate the coronation of King George V. They only made 2,812 pieces, and an NGC sample graded PF 61 is worth £13,585 ($16,900) in June 2023.
