George V (1910-36), Nickel trial pattern Shilling, 1923. Bare head left, recut shallow portrait, BM on truncation for engraver Bertram MacKennal, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX, Rev. lion standing left on crown, date either side, linear circle around with Latin legend in upper half, FID: DEF: IND: IMP:, denomination ONE SHILLING in lower half, edge milled, weight 5.71g (Bull 3819 R4; ESC 1433A R4; Davies 1814; S.4023A; KM.PnC121). Attractively toned, practically as struck and extremely rare. Value $3,000 - UP
The Latin legend on the obverse translates as "George the Fifth, by the grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India." The 1923 nickel trial weighs on par with its .500 silver currency counterpart as an attempt to see the reaction of a coinage struck in a baser metal with an intrinsic value below the face value. The companion trial of 1924 in nickel weighs half a gram lighter pushing the boundary for a modern "token" coinage further at this inter-war period.