George III 1787 proof Shilling with semée of hearts, only 168 struck

George III (1760-1820), silver Proof Shilling, 1787, struck in fine silver, laureate and cuirassed bust right, legend surrounding with beaded outer border at raised rim both sides, GEORGIVS. III . DEI. GRATIA. rev. struck en medaille, cruciform shields, with semée of hearts in Hanoverian arms, crowns in angles, garter star at centre, date at bottom without stops either side, legend surrounding commences lower left, M.B.F. ET. H. REX. F.D. B.ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T ET. E. plain edge, weight 6.58g (Bull 2172; ESC 1241; S.3746). Toned, surface marks, scratches in obverse field, edge knock, slight bend in part of flan, otherwise about extremely fine and rare.

The Latin legends translate to on obverse "George III by the Grace of God" continuing on the reverse in abbreviated Latin which if in shown in full reads "Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor Brun et Lunebergen-sis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-Thesaurius et Elector" and translates as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

This issue of the Proof Shilling was struck exclusively in pure silver for the use of the Bank of England along with pure silver Sixpences, and fine gold Guineas and Half-Guineas as of September 1787. The order was approved by the Master of the Mint on the 19th September and Lewis Pingo went ahead and struck 168 four coin groups of which this coin would have been one of 168 shillings struck. A contemporary record (Mint 1/14 p.12)shows that 100 of the four coin sets were for the Directors of the Bank of England, 18 for higher ranking officers, 38 for Royal Mint officials and 12 for the Company of Moneyers.

For further reading on the issue of 1787 Shillings and for a breakdown of some recipients of the sets of four coins see Appendix E in the article "The 1787 Shilling - A Transition in Minting Technique" by H E Manville and Prof. P P Gaspar, British Numismatic Journal, 2004, volume 74.