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United Kingdom of Great Britain, George III, Crown 1818

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United Kingdom of Great Britain, George III, Crown 1818 (obverse) United Kingdom of Great Britain, George III, Crown 1818 (reverse)

With the new coinage act of 1816, British coinage got the form in which it was to become a world currency. The currency system was based on the gold standard; the major gold coin was the sovereign. Through the British Empires' status as a world power, the sovereign developed into the world's dominant coin. The silver coins, which had been debased during the 18th century, became minor coins now. The renowned crown, the 5 shilling piece, was minted with the same image as the sovereign, but at reduced fineness. It continued to be used until 1918, the end of the First World War.

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