Natal 1 Shilling
South Africa
1855–1867
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$13.27
Based on Silver spot price ($78.96/oz) · 92.5% purity · 5.65g
Updated 10:08 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | South Africa |
| Years Minted | 1855–1867 |
| Composition | 92.5% silver |
| Weight | 5.65 g |
| Diameter | 23.5 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the young head portrait of Queen Victoria facing left.
Reverse
Displays the denomination 'ONE SHILLING' within a wreath, with 'NATAL' above.
History & Notable Facts
The Natal 1 Shilling was struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a practical nod to the cash-strapped realities of colonial minting.
This silver coin, issued by the Natal colony in what is now South Africa, circulated from 1855 to 1867. It bore a simple design: the British sovereign on the obverse, with local symbols like the colony's coat of arms on the reverse. Workers in Durban hammered out these pieces amid the era's administrative chaos.
Mintage records are spotty; many colonial documents vanished over time. If you're chasing one, expect wear from heavy use in trade.
Recycled silver has its ironies—old empires funding new ones.
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