George III Bank Token Emergency Silver Three Shillings 1814

Description

Heading: George III bank token – Emergency silver three shillings issued by the Bank of England

Denomination: Silver 3 shilling (also known as a token)

Period: Hanoverian

Date: 1814

Origin: Struck in London prior to the move from The Tower of London to Tower Hill

Condition: EF 

Obverse: Draped and laureate bust of George III (second head). right. legend around

Reverse: Inscription in wreath of oak and olive. BANK TOKEN 3 SHILL. (in three lines) then 1814 below

Size and Weight: 35mm. 14.64g

References: Spink 3770

Features and Provenance: Britain had been at war with America. this however was not the biggest drain on public funds; the war with France and Napoleon was far more costly. With the threat of invasion hanging over Britain there was a ‘run’ on the banks; the Bank of England coped with this by at first counter-stamping old foreign coins as the source of precious metals ran out. then by issuing token denominations. Once the Napoleonic wars were over in 1815 this was the stimulus for a re-coinage from 1816 when the Royal Mint moved to their new site on Tower Hill. Produced for only a brief period. these ‘coins’ are therefore extremely rare and very collectible.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible