Published 2 June 2026
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.
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 base metal and worth no more than face. Group the coins by era and the valuation runs faster on arrival.
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.
Foreign silver coins commonly seen
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 .999 (and now .9999) fine silver coin first struck in 1997. 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 an offer is built
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. For silver coins the inputs are total weight by group, silver content of each group, XRF confirmation of any high-value pieces and any numismatic premium for proof or scarce coins. The written valuation arrives on WhatsApp itemised so you can see exactly which coins drove which part of the offer.
Posting silver coins
- WhatsApp photos grouped by date range to 07763 741067.
- Receive your shape-of-offer reply and 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.
Insurance, decline and payment
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. 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 every coin travels with cover. Accept and Faster Payments leaves the same working day. Decline and the coins are returned by tracked post at our cost.
Common questions
Do you buy 1947 onwards British silver coins?
No. They contain no silver and are face value only.
Are damaged silver coins worth anything?
Yes, at bullion value. Heavy wear reduces numismatic premium but not bullion content.
How are mixed parcels priced?
We sort by era and silver content, weigh each group and apply the live silver price to each.
Is my parcel insured?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. Larger parcels travel under multiple labels.
Do you accept foreign silver coins?
Yes, US, Canadian, European, Australian and others.
When am I paid?
By Faster Payments on the working day you accept the valuation.
Do I need to clean my coins first?
No. Please do not clean them. Cleaning can reduce numismatic value.
Do you take walk-ins?
No. The service is by post, UK-wide.