Great Britain 1723 George I Shilling VG-F (VG10)

Great Britain 1723 George I Shilling VG-F (VG10)

Despite eighteen pregnancies, Queen Anne died childless in 1714. The 1701 Act of Settlement named George Ludwig, Elector of Hanover, her successor, passing over fifty other claimants who were either too Catholic or not Protestant enough. He was the first of four successors who shared his name, encompassing the Georgian era of British history. The Georgian period saw monarchial powers diminished in favour of the cabinet government that the United Kingdom maintains today, the expansion of colonial power, and an explosion of interest in the arts and sciences -- collectively called the Enlightenment. George's lasting legacy is as a patron of the arts; specifically in his support of musicians such as George Frideric Handel and the establishment of the Royal Academy of Music.

This 1723 shilling dates to 1723, towards the end of George I's reign. Made of sterling silver, it features George's bust on the obverse and the crowned curciform shields on the reverse.