British Guiana Silver Coin Value 

British Guiana Silver Coins

British Guiana, located on the northern coast of South America, was a British colony from 1814 until it gained independence in 1966, after which it became known as Guyana. The coinage system in British Guiana during the 19th and 20th centuries was heavily influenced by British standards, and many of the coins used were also circulated throughout the wider British Empire. Although British Guiana did not mint its own distinct silver coins in large quantities, it used silver coins from the United Kingdom and the wider British Caribbean territories.

Silver Coins Used in British Guiana in the 19th and 20th Centuries

British Silver Coins Circulating in British Guiana

British Guiana primarily used British silver coinage, such as shillings, florins, half-crowns, and crowns, in addition to smaller denominations like threepence and sixpence. These coins were minted in the UK and were composed of silver before the debasement in 1920.

Silver Purity (Pre-1920): Coins minted before 1920 were typically made from 92.5% silver (Sterling silver).

Silver Purity (Post-1920): After 1920, the silver content in British coins was reduced to 50% silver due to rising silver prices and economic changes after World War I.
Key Characteristics: 

• Shilling: Weight ~5.66g, diameter ~23.5mm, purity 92.5% or 50% silver depending on the year.
• Florin: Weight ~11.31g, diameter ~28.5mm, purity 92.5% or 50%.
• Half Crown: Weight ~14.14g, diameter ~32mm, same purity specifications.

These coins typically featured the reigning monarch of Britain at the time, including Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, and King George V.

British Caribbean Territories (Eastern Group) Silver Coins

After 1955, a unified currency was issued for the British Caribbean Territories (which included British Guiana), known as the British West Indies dollar.
The main silver coins included 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, and 50 cents.
These coins were typically 50% silver for denominations of 25 cents and higher.
   - Characteristics: 

• 25 Cents Coin: Diameter ~23.62 mm, weight ~5.83g.
• 50 Cents Coin: Diameter ~29.72 mm, weight ~11.66g.

These coins also featured the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, who became the reigning monarch after 1952.

Key Types: British Guiana used standard British silver coinage for much of the 19th century and early 20th century. In the mid-20th century, it transitioned to using the British West Indies dollar, which included silver coins minted specifically for the British Caribbean.

Coins prior to 1920 had 92.5% silver, while those minted after 1920 had a reduced silver content of 50%.

These coins are often collected for their historical connection to the British Empire and their silver content. Coins with lower mintage numbers, such as those from certain years or featuring specific monarchs, tend to be more valuable in numismatic markets.