---
title: "Selling Silver Coins and Old Currency in the UK"
source: "https://goldealers.co.uk/knowledge/silver/selling-silver-coins"
date: "2025-12-02"
---

# Selling Silver Coins and Old Currency in the UK

Many people have old silver coins or inherited collections gathering dust. This comprehensive guide explains how to sell coins valuable for their silver content (as opposed to rare numismatic collectors' coins). We cover UK coinage dates and possibly foreign silver coins, helping you understand what you have and how to sell it effectively through dealers like Goldealers.

## UK Silver Coin History

The silver content of UK coins changed dramatically over the 20th century, affecting their value today.

### Key Dates for UK Coin Silver

| Period | Silver Content | Examples |
|--------|----------------|----------|
| **Pre-1920** | 92.5% (Sterling) | Crowns, half-crowns, florins, shillings, sixpences, threepences |
| **1920-1946** | 50% silver | Same denominations |
| **1947-Present** | 0% (cupro-nickel) | No silver in circulation coins |

> The 1920 change was due to the cost of silver after World War I. The 1947 change removed silver entirely due to post-WWII economic pressures. Any UK coin dated 1947 or later (except special editions) contains no silver.

### Common Pre-1920 Coins

**High-value denominations:**
- **Crown** (5 shillings): ~28g, sterling silver
- **Half-crown** (2.5 shillings): ~14g, sterling silver
- **Florin** (2 shillings): ~11g, sterling silver

**Smaller denominations:**
- **Shilling**: ~5.6g, sterling silver
- **Sixpence**: ~2.8g, sterling silver  
- **Threepence**: ~1.4g, sterling silver

## Identifying Silver Coins

### Quick Identification Guide

**Pre-1920 coins (Sterling silver):**
- Date stamped 1919 or earlier
- Often worn/tarnished
- Distinctive "ping" when dropped
- Heavier than modern coins
- Dark grey/black tarnish common

**1920-1946 coins (50% silver):**
- Date stamped 1920-1946
- Similar appearance to pre-1920
- Slightly lighter weight
- Still valuable, but less than sterling

**Post-1947 coins (No silver):**
- Date 1947 onwards
- Lighter, brighter appearance
- Cupro-nickel (copper-nickel alloy)
- No scrap silver value

> Don't confuse modern commemorative coins with circulation coins. Special edition silver coins (like modern Britannias) contain silver, but regular pocket change from 1947 onwards does not.

## Collector vs Melt Value

### When Coins Are Worth More Than Melt

Some coins have **numismatic value** exceeding their silver content:

**Factors that increase collector value:**
- Rare dates (key years)
- Mint errors
- Exceptional condition (uncirculated)
- Historical significance
- Complete date runs

**Examples of premium coins:**
- 1905 Half-crown (rare date)
- 1920-1926 wreath crowns (semi-key dates)
- Any pre-Victorian in fine condition

> If you have coins in exceptional condition, older than Victorian era, or in complete sets, consider getting them appraised by a coin dealer before selling for melt value. You might have numismatic value that exceeds silver content.

### When to Sell for Melt Value

**Most circulated coins are just melt value:**
- Common dates (1900-1919 very common)
- Worn/damaged condition
- No rare varieties
- Mixed condition lots

**This is perfectly fine!** The majority of old silver coins people find are worth their silver content, which is still significant.

## Calculating Silver Coin Value

### Pre-1920 Sterling Coins

**Formula:**
```
Coin Weight (g) × 0.925 × Current Silver Price (£/g) = Silver Value
```

**Example: Half-crown**
- Weight: 14.14g
- Silver content: 14.14g × 92.5% = 13.08g pure silver
- At £0.65/g: 13.08g × £0.65 = **£8.50 silver value**
- Typical dealer offer: 85-95% = **£7.22-8.08**

### 1920-1946 (50%) Coins

**Formula:**
```
Coin Weight (g) × 0.50 × Current Silver Price (£/g) = Silver Value
```

**Example: Florin (1935)**
- Weight: 11.31g
- Silver content: 11.31g × 50% = 5.66g pure silver
- At £0.65/g: 5.66g × £0.65 = **£3.68 silver value**
- Typical dealer offer: 85-95% = **£3.13-3.50**

### Reference Table: Common Coins

| Coin | Era | Weight | Silver % | Pure Silver | Value* |
|------|-----|--------|----------|-------------|--------|
| Crown | Pre-1920 | 28.28g | 92.5% | 26.16g | £17.00 |
| Half-crown | Pre-1920 | 14.14g | 92.5% | 13.08g | £8.50 |
| Florin | Pre-1920 | 11.31g | 92.5% | 10.46g | £6.80 |
| Shilling | Pre-1920 | 5.66g | 92.5% | 5.24g | £3.40 |
| Half-crown | 1920-46 | 14.14g | 50% | 7.07g | £4.60 |
| Florin | 1920-46 | 11.31g | 50% | 5.66g | £3.68 |

*Based on £0.65/g silver price (example rate)

> These are silver content values. Actual offers from Goldealers will be a high percentage of these amounts (typically 85-95%) to cover processing costs.

## Sorting Your Coins

### Preparation Steps

**1. Sort by Date:**
- Pre-1920 pile (highest value)
- 1920-1946 pile (medium value)
- Post-1947 pile (no silver value - set aside)

**2. Sort by Denomination:**
Within each date group, separate:
- Crowns and half-crowns
- Florins and shillings
- Sixpences and threepences

**3. Check for Special Coins:**
- Unusually shiny/uncirculated
- Very old dates (pre-1850)
- Obvious rarities
- Consider separate valuation for these

**4. Weigh (Optional):**
If you have scales, weigh each group for better estimate

## Foreign Silver Coins

### Common Foreign Coins in UK

**American coins:**
- Pre-1965: 90% silver (dimes, quarters, half-dollars)
- 1965-1970: 40% silver (half-dollars only)
- Post-1970: No silver

**European coins:**
- Various dates and purities
- Often 500-800 silver
- Check individual country standards

**Commonwealth coins:**
- Similar patterns to UK
- Canada, Australia, NZ changed to non-silver 1960s-1970s

> Goldealers buys foreign silver coins too. We test everything to determine exact silver content and value accordingly. If you're unsure about foreign coins, send them with your UK coins for evaluation.

## How to Sell Silver Coins

### The Process

**Step 1: Sort and Count**
- Organize coins as described above
- Count quantities of each type
- Rough weight if possible

**Step 2: Get a Quote**
- Contact Goldealers with details
- We provide estimate based on weights/quantities
- Confirm current silver prices

**Step 3: Send Securely**
- Use [our free insured postage service](/knowledge/postal/how-to-sell-gold-by-post)
- Package coins securely (padded, double-bagged)
- Use Royal Mail Special Delivery
- Insure for appropriate value

**Step 4: Professional Evaluation**
- We verify dates and weights
- Sort any mixed lots
- Identify any numismatic pieces
- Test any uncertain coins

**Step 5: Receive Offer**
- Breakdown by coin type
- Based on confirmed silver content
- Fair percentage of current silver prices

**Step 6: Get Paid**
- Accept for same-day bank transfer
- Or decline for free insured return

### Packaging Tips for Coins

**For small quantities (under 100 coins):**
- Use small bags by type
- Bubble wrap between layers
- Sturdy padded envelope

**For large quantities (100+ coins):**
- Consider small boxes
- Layer with padding
- Multiple packages if very heavy
- Ensure adequate insurance

> Coins are heavy! A bag of 100 silver coins can weigh over 1kg. Ensure your packaging is sturdy enough and that insurance covers the full value. Goldealers can provide guidance on splitting large quantities into multiple shipments.

## What Goldealers Pays

### Our Approach

✓ **Fair market rates**: 85-95% of pure silver content value
✓ **All dates accepted**: Pre-1920 and 1920-1946
✓ **Honest grading**: We don't undervalue
✓ **Collector awareness**: We identify valuable pieces
✓ **Transparent process**: You see our calculations

### Why Not 100% of Silver Value?

- Refining and processing costs
- Time to sort and verify
- Business operational expenses
- Market price risk

**We pay among the highest rates in the UK** because we handle large volumes efficiently.

## Special Cases

### Very Large Collections

If you have thousands of coins:
- Contact us before sending
- We may arrange courier pickup
- Bulk rates may be better
- ID verification required for high values

### Mixed Condition Lots

- Bent or damaged coins still contain silver
- Cleaned coins are fine for melt
- Hole-punched coins valued by weight remaining

### Numismatic Coins

If we identify coins worth more as collectibles:
- We inform you immediately
- You can choose to sell as scrap anyway
- Or we return them for separate sale
- Your choice, no pressure

> At Goldealers, we're honest about finding valuable coins. Our reputation matters more than a quick sale, so we'll always tell you if something is worth more than melt value.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: I have old silver coins – are they worth anything and how do I sell them?**

A: Yes, many older coins contain silver and are worth more than face value. For example, in the UK, coins dated 1919 or earlier are sterling silver (92.5% silver), and those from 1920-1946 are 50% silver. You can sell these for their silver content. The process is like selling other silver: a dealer will weigh them and pay based on total silver weight and current prices. Condition doesn't matter unless a coin is a rare collector's item – most circulated coins are sold for melt value. To sell, sort your coins by type and era, then get a quote from a precious metals buyer like Goldealers. We'll happily buy silver coins and pay you according to their silver content.

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*Have a jar full of old coins? [Contact Goldealers](#) for a free estimate and easy postal service to turn your old currency into cash.*

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*Published by Goldealers Ltd · https://goldealers.co.uk/knowledge/silver/selling-silver-coins*