So, you’ve found a dusty old coin in a drawer, or maybe you’re just reading a Dickens novel and wondering why everyone is so excited about a "bob." Most people asking how much is a shilling in US currency are usually looking for one of two things: the value of a modern African currency or the historical weight of a British coin that technically doesn't exist anymore.
Honestly, it’s kinda confusing. If you walk into a bank in New York today and ask for a shilling's worth of dollars, they’ll probably look at you like you’ve just stepped out of a time machine. But depending on where you are in the world—or what year you think it is—that answer changes wildly.
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The Modern Reality: Shillings in 2026
If we’re talking about money you can actually spend right now, you’re looking at East Africa. Several countries still use the shilling as their official unit of currency. As of mid-January 2026, the exchange rates are pretty tiny when compared to the US dollar. You need a lot of them to buy a cup of coffee.
Basically, here is how the math shakes out for the most common "active" shillings:
- Kenyan Shilling (KES): This is usually the strongest of the bunch. Right now, 1 Kenyan Shilling is worth roughly $0.0078. To put that in perspective, 100 Kenyan Shillings is about 78 cents.
- Ugandan Shilling (UGX): This one has a lot more zeros. 1 Ugandan Shilling is approximately $0.00028. You’d need about 3,500 of these just to equal one US dollar.
- Tanzanian Shilling (TZS): Sitting somewhere in the middle, 1 Tanzanian Shilling is worth about $0.00040.
If you have a single coin from one of these countries, it’s effectively worth less than a penny in American money. It’s pocket change. Actually, it's less than pocket change—it's the stuff that falls between the couch cushions and stays there.
The British "Bob": A History Lesson in Your Pocket
Most of the time, when Americans ask about a shilling, they aren’t planning a trip to Nairobi. They’re thinking of the British shilling. This is the coin of pirates, Victorian chimney sweeps, and grandfathers who still remember "real money."
The British shilling was part of a nightmare-inducing math system called £sd (pounds, shillings, and pence). Before 1971, the UK didn't use a base-10 system. They had 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings in a pound.
"It was the most wonderful denominator of value in the world,"
— John Ruskin, Art Critic (who clearly didn't have to do his own taxes).
When the UK finally "decimalized" in 1971, they switched to a system where 100 pence equals 1 pound. On that day, the shilling was officially re-valued to 5 new pence.
So, what is that old British shilling worth in USD today?
If you take the face value—the 5p it became—and convert it at today's exchange rate (where £1 is roughly $1.34), a shilling is worth about 7 cents.
But wait. It's never that simple, is it?
If you have a shilling minted before 1947, it actually contains real silver. Coins from 1816 to 1920 are 92.5% silver (Sterling). From 1920 to 1946, they dropped it to 50% silver. If you have one of these, the "melt value" of the metal is often worth $2 to $5, regardless of what the exchange rate says.
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Why the Shilling Still Matters (And Why It's Tricky)
You've probably noticed that currency isn't just about math; it's about purchasing power. In 1865, 7 shillings had the same buying power as roughly $60 today. If you're watching a movie and someone gets paid "a shilling a day," they aren't getting 7 cents. They’re getting a living wage for the time.
Context is everything.
Common Misconceptions
- "It's just like a nickel." Sorta, but not really. While the value is close to 5-7 cents, the historical weight was much higher.
- "I can still spend them in London." Nope. The UK demonetized the shilling completely in 1990 when they shrunk the size of the 5p coin. Shops won't take them.
- "All old shillings are valuable." Most cupronickel shillings (post-1947) are only worth a few cents to collectors unless they are in absolutely pristine, "uncirculated" condition.
Regional Variations: Not All Shillings Are Equal
The British Empire was huge, and it left shillings everywhere like a trail of breadcrumbs.
- Australia & New Zealand: They had their own shillings until the mid-60s. When they went decimal, the shilling became 10 cents in their local currency.
- Ireland: The Irish scilling featured a bull on the back. It stayed in use as a 5p equivalent until 1993.
- Somalia: They still use the Somali Shilling, though exchange rates there are incredibly volatile due to the political climate.
How to Value Your Shilling Right Now
If you’re holding a coin and want to know its worth in US currency, follow this quick mental checklist.
First, check the country. If it says Kenya, Uganda, or Tanzania, look up the daily "Forex" rate. It'll be a fraction of a cent.
Second, check the date on British coins. Pre-1920 is a silver jackpot. 1921-1946 is a silver "maybe." Post-1947 is basically a souvenir.
Third, look for "mint marks." Small letters like "PLN" (London) can sometimes make a coin more interesting to collectors, though for shillings, it’s mostly about the date and the metal content.
What Really Happened With the Keyword?
At the end of the day, how much is a shilling in US currency depends entirely on whether you are a traveler, a coin collector, or a history buff. For the traveler in Kenya, it's 1/128th of a dollar. For the collector of Victorian silver, it's $5. For the person holding a 1960s cupronickel "bob," it’s a 7-cent piece of history that’s better kept as a lucky charm than traded for cash.
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If you’re looking to exchange modern shillings, use a reputable converter like OANDA or XE, but be prepared for high fees on small amounts. If you're looking at old coins, check a numismatic guide like Coincraft rather than a currency exchange. The "value" of money is a slippery thing, and the shilling is the slipperiest of them all.
To get an accurate price for a specific historical coin, your next step is to weigh the coin in grams and check its silver purity against the current spot price of silver. Most local coin shops will do this for free if you're looking to sell a bulk collection.