George III (1760-1820), Silver Shilling, 1763, so-called Northumberland type. Young laureate and draped bust right, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS. III DEI. GRATIA., Rev. crowned cruciform shields, eight strings to Irish harp, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, M.B.F. ET. H. REX. F.D. B.ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T ET. E., weight 6.00g (ESC 1214; Bull 2124; C&R 1004; S.3742; KM.597). Attractively toned, just a few tiny flecks, otherwise a pleasing extremely fine. Value $2,500 - UP
The Northumberland Shilling is so called because the Earl of Northumberland as the new Lord Lieutenant of Dublin in 1763 distributed £100 worth of these new coins, some two thousand pieces whilst parading on the streets of Dublin in Ireland. An old ticket accompanies this piece written in the hand of one of the earlier generations of the Baldwin family (early 20th Century) mentioning the £100 worth given out, and falsely giving the impression that £100 worth was the sum total issued, when in fact the calendar year of 1763 represented an output of 2,629 pounds in weight of silver for coinage. The coinage of 1763 consisted of maundy denominations and shillings only, and probably means that circa 100,000 shillings plus would have been issued which is still a very small figure as annual mintage goes.
Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, February 1995, item 228.