SSC coinage facts for kids
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In 1723, special coins were made in Britain. These coins were unique because they were created by the South Sea Company (SSC). The company had found silver in Indonesia in 1722. They brought this silver back to Britain. This new silver was then used to make these special coins.
The South Sea Company's Special Coins
The South Sea Company was a British trading company. It was set up in 1711. The company aimed to trade with South America. In 1722, the company found silver. This discovery led to the creation of unique coins. These coins are known for having "SSC" on them. This stands for South Sea Company.
What Coins Did They Make?
The South Sea Company minted four types of coins. These were the Crown, the Half Crown, the Shilling, and the Sixpence. Each coin had the "SSC" mark. You can find this mark on the back of the coins. It is usually in the quarters of the shield design.
- The Crown: This is the hardest coin to find. It is very rare.
- The Half Crown: This coin is also difficult to find. Especially if you want one in good condition.
- The Shilling: Shillings are quite common. You can often find them in excellent condition.
- The Sixpence: Sixpences are also common. However, finding one in perfect, unused condition is rare.
Interesting Mistakes on the Shilling
Sometimes, mistakes happen when coins are made. These mistakes are called "die errors." A "die" is like a stamp that presses the design onto the coin. The shillings from the South Sea Company have some interesting errors.
One common error is called "SS/C." This happened when the engraver made a mistake. They accidentally punched the letter "C" in the wrong spot. Then, they tried to fix it by stamping "SS" over it. If you look closely, you can sometimes see a faint "C" under the "SS."
There is also a much rarer mistake. On these coins, the whole shield design on the back is rotated. This means it is turned at an angle. These rotated shield shillings are very valuable. They can be worth a lot of money, even if they are not in perfect condition.
