Pattern Half Florin

[tonyclayton]

I have been able to add some pattern florins to my website thanks to Martin Platt, and I have just added a pattern half florin of 1863.  A small copy of the image is below - a better one can be found at http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/qv/1s/index.html

The pattern florins are at
http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/qv/2s/index.html

[BC Numismatics]

Tony,
  I can guess that '1/2 Florin' is another way of saying '1/-'.

Aidan.

[Figleaf]

Magnificent picture, Tony. Good idea to put it with the regular pieces. I like the headband better than the crown design, but the heraldic side is obviously more interesting than the simple value in wreath. Was this pattern made when Britain toyed with the idea of decimalization (in the same frame of mind as the double florin)?

The florin would have been 1/10th of a pound, so the half florin fits right in at 1/20th of a pound (5 secondary decimal units). Was there a pattern 1/100th of a pound (or 1/10th florin) also?

Peter

[tonyclayton]

There were a whole host of pattern shillings in 1863, designed by CW Weiner in conjunction with either Wyon or WJ Taylor. Those with Wyon have his standard ONE SHILLING reverse as on the issued coins, but with various obverse dies.  It is thought that these were produced on the death of Prince Albert  . A number of half florins with Taylor's reverse are also known, some struck in copper, and some dated 1865.

Of course, the florin was intended as a precursor to full decimalisation, an event that took place 122 years later in 1971.  There were quarter sovereign patterns in 1853, a half shilling in1856, and decimal pennies (one tenth of a shilling) in 1857 and 1859.  A Ten Pence/One Franc pattern is known dated 1867, and a gold double florin dated 1868

The next decimal patterns were made in 1961 with the same dimensions as the halfpenny (2 cents) and farthing (one cent).  I believe other patterns were made around the run up to D-day in 1971.