The reason this particular design on the shilling was introduced into the British currency by George VI (reigned 1937-1952)was to pay tribute to the Scottish ancestry of Elizabeth, his Queen (later the Queen Mother) who was of Scottish descent, being the daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.

The shillings which were issued between 1937 and 1951 all depict the the forward facing lion of the King of Scots which formed part of the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland.

As it happens this same crowned lion, holding the Sceptre and Sword of State and wearing the Crown of Scotland, is the crest of the Royal Burgh of Irvine.The right to use the Royal crest is said to have been granted to the citizens of Irvine by King Robert I (the Bruce) because of special services they had rendered him.

Therefore, in Irvine, this shilling has been known for over 70 years as the Burgh Shilling.

In 1946 the British government had to pay back to the United States of America the war loan which, in order to make the payment, resulted in all British silver coins being smelted down. Following that date all shillings were made in copra-nickel. Silver ones can still be purchase from coin dealers well above their original value (which at Decimalisation Day - 15 February 1971 - converted to 5p).

With the re-organisation of local government after the Wheatley Report of 1974, the Royal Burgh of Irvine, which had received it's Royal Charter in 1372, ceased to exist.

In 1975 the Incorporated Trades of Irvine decided to carry on the tradition of the annual Royal Burgh Ball and call it the Trades May Ball. At the same time, the Incorporation mad a decision to mount a Burgh Shilling in or on some suitable item linked to the Trade of the current Deacon Convenor and at the Ball present it to each lady as a favour.

Since the 1st Trades May Ball in 1976, these shillings, dated 1947-51, have been mounted on some interesting items and are much treasured keepsakes - for examples
for the Coopers there's been an oak bung for whisky barrels;
for the Hammermen there's been a miniature anvil;
of the Wrights and Squaremen there's been a small joiner's square;
for the Skinners there's been an inscribed leather bookmark;
for the Tailors there's been scissors (the shilling was placed in the small finger hole);
for the Weavers there's been a wooden shuttle;
and for the Cordiners there's been cobbler's back cutting knife.