June 3, 2024

Part 5
Twelve Pence to a Shilling
King Edward VII

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From the Shield on a 1909 One Twelfth of a Shilling

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The reverse of a 1902
Edward VII Coronation copper medal.
     There were only two coin issues for Jersey during the reign of Edward VII, both minted in 1909, the penultimate year of his reign.  The obverse has a bust of the King in full coronation regalia and the legend “EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR.”  The bust on the obverse was modeled and engraved by George William De Saulles, the Royal Mint's Chief Engraver from 1893 to 1903. 

     The reverse of each coin features the same design as the one that appeared during Queen Victoria's reign.  Although this basic design had been used for Jersey's badge of arms for centuries, it was only in 1907 that King Edward VII gave royal permission for the Crest to be used as Jersey's official motif. 

Things to note about this series:
  • The letters “DES” for George William De Saulles can be found beneath the truncation.
  • The obverse legend occurs in English, as opposed to Latin.
  • There is recognition that the Monarch is Emperor of India.
  • Some of the old coinage was returned to the Royal Mint for melting to be used for this issue and probably accounts for the streaky appearance on some of the coins.1
If you look carefully, there are many things to discover on these coins. Take a look at the following digits from a 1909 penny.

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Be sure to click on the letter icon Letter image to see images using a digital microscope.



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A 1902 Edward VII Coronation copper medal

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From The Statesman's Year-book 1913 edited by Scott Keltie

One Twenty-Fourth of a Shilling
1909
(click on image to enlarge)
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    Year    J#    KM#   Mintage  Diameter 
    1909    45     9    120,000   25.55      missing image missing image missing image missing image
Things to note:
Page 26 from The Statesman's Year-book 1905
From The Statesman's Year-book 1905 edited by Scott Keltie

One Twelfth of a Shilling
1909
(click on image to enlarge)
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    Year    J#    KM#   Mintage  Diameter  
    1909    16    10    180,000   30.90      missing image missing image missing image missing image
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A 'What-if' coin
Wilfrid du Pré3  states :
A further point of interest concerning the 1909 Jersey coinage was that the title 'King and Emperor' was rendered in English, and not in the customary Latin form. Apparently, as regards Jersey, the use of English and the omission of the ancient symbols were both considered undesirable alterations and advantage was accordingly taken of the next ensuing Jersey issue, that of George V in 19II, to reinstate the symbols, and to revert to the Latin abbreviations, the obverse of the Jersey coinage from 1911 onwards thus being made to correspond with the standard British currency.
Things to note:
  • There are eight dots below the orb in the center of the crown. 
  • The letters “FTH” in “TWELFTH” are out of alignment.
  • The Royal Mint records state that 182,208 pieces were coined using two obverse dies and one reverse die.2  The number of blanks cut was 182,784.4

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During the reign of King Edward VII,
coins were minted only in 1909 for the island of Jersey.

1.  MINT 1/51,  Entries include:  Orders of the Deputy Master and Comptroller, July 1907 - February 1910; Orders of the Privy Council, September 1907 - October 1909; Representations, reports etc. submitted to the Treasury, October 1907 - June 1909; Treasury authorities and directions, July 1907 - 1910, p 84. (Treasury Reference no 3605/09.)

2.  Royal Mint Annual Report 1909 Volume 40, pp. 49.

3.  Wilfrid du Pré, Jersey's Copper Coinage, Annual Bulletin of La Société Jersiaise. 1948.

4.  Royal Mint Annual Report 1909 Volume 40, pp. 34.



Page 26 from The Statesman's Year-book 1905
From The Statesman's Year-book 1905 edited by Scott Keltie


Continue to the next 12 Pence section
or goto
Twelve Pence to a Shilling - Queen Victoria,
Twelve Pence to a Shilling - King Edward VII,
Twelve Pence to a Shilling - King George V,
Twelve Pence to a Shilling - King George VI,
Twelve Pence to a Shilling - Queen Elizabeth II,

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