By Rocco Clayfield, trading as GoldPaid; the business incorporated as GOLDPAID LTD (company 17382540) on 5 August 2026 · Published · updated
British silver coins, the two date rules
British silver coins fall into two main eras for sellers. Pre-1920 coins, half crowns, florins, shillings, sixpences, threepences and crowns, were struck in sterling silver, which is .925 fine. From 1920 to 1946 the silver content was halved to .500 because the post-war Treasury needed to economise. From 1947 onwards British "silver" coins are cupro-nickel and contain no silver at all. If you already know what you hold, the service page to sell silver coins by post covers the label, the cover level and the paperwork.
For sellers this means a quick sort by date is the most useful thing you can do before posting. A Victorian crown is .925. A 1928 half crown is .500. A 1947 half crown is cupro-nickel with no silver in it. Group the coins by era and the valuation runs faster on arrival. The fine-silver weight of each denomination, with the arithmetic set out so you can check it yourself, is on sell pre-1947 British silver coins.
Not sure how any of this applies to your own items? Send a photo on WhatsApp and ask, call 07944 014111 (8am to 9pm, 7 days a week), or ask for a free prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label. Whichever you pick: nothing is posted until you decide, your parcel is tracked and signed for, the written offer follows the XRF assay, the return is free if you decline, and we aim to pay by Faster Payments within one working hour of your acceptance.
Maundy, proof and pattern coins
Some British silver coins carry a numismatic premium far above their bullion content. Maundy money, small silver coins given out by the monarch on Maundy Thursday, is collected for its tradition rather than its silver. Proof sets in original Royal Mint cases trade above bullion. Pattern coins and trial strikes are scarce and need specialist handling. If you think any of your coins fall into one of those categories, mention it on WhatsApp before posting. What pre-1947 silver coins are worth covers the bag-lot arithmetic and the coins to show a dealer first.
Foreign silver coins we accept
US Morgan dollars (1878-1904, 1921) and Peace dollars (1921-1935) are .900 fine silver and trade as both bullion and collectables. Canadian silver dollars before 1968 contain silver. Mexican Libertads and Australian Kookaburras are .999 fine 1oz bullion coins. French écu and 5 franc pieces from the 19th century are silver, with the exact fineness depending on the year. We accept all of these.
Britannia silver 1oz and bullion silver
The Royal Mint silver Britannia is a 1oz coin first struck in 1997. Issues from 1997 to 2012 were struck at .958 Britannia standard; from 2013 onwards the coin has been .999 fine. It is UK legal tender at £2 face value, which means it carries the same CGT-exempt status for UK individuals as the gold Britannia. Bullion silver Britannias trade close to spot silver. Proof issues carry a numismatic premium.
Other 1oz bullion silver coins commonly traded in the UK include the American Silver Eagle, the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, the Austrian Silver Vienna Philharmonic and the Australian Silver Kangaroo. All are accepted.
How the silver total is worked out
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. For silver coins the written valuation lists the total weight and silver content of each group, with XRF confirmation of any high-value pieces, and it arrives on WhatsApp itemised so you can see exactly which coins make up which part of the offer.
Posting silver coins
- WhatsApp photos grouped by date range to 07944 014111.
- Receive our reply and a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Wrap each group of coins in a small zip bag or tissue.
- Use a padded jiffy bag inside a rigid outer mailer.
- Silver is denser than people expect, confirm the parcel weight matches Special Delivery limits before handing it in.
- Drop off at a Post Office counter and forward the tracking on WhatsApp.
Why a silver parcel hits the cover cap sooner
Your parcel travels on Royal Mail Special Delivery, and Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. A large silver parcel can exceed that cap quickly because silver coins are bulky relative to value. Tell us before you ship and we will issue more than one label, so no single parcel goes over that cap. Accept and we aim to pay by Faster Payments within one working hour. Decline and the coins are returned by tracked post at our cost.