Description
Denomination: Copper ‘Cartwheel’ twopence (2d)
Period: Hanoverian
Date: 1797
Origin: Soho mint, Birmingham
Condition: VF, edge with a few small knocks, but otherwise in good condition for this coin
Obverse: Laureate and draped bust, right, legend incuse on raised rim
Reverse: Britannia seated, left, date below legend around, again on raised rim
Size and Weight: 41mm, 57g
References: S3776
Features and Provenance: This is the largest coin that Britain ever produced. The reign of George III was to be the longest, at the time, of any British monarch and saw such notable events as: the French Revolution, the American War of Independence, and the Battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo.
George became king in 1760 at the age of 22. A pious man, he loathed corruption and sought, maybe rather naively, to rid the court and government of ‘bad men’. He later admitted defeat and concluded ‘We must call in bad men to govern bad men!’. His lapses into insanity in later life have been attributed to porphyria, an imbalance in the body that poisons the nervous system but recently bipolar disorder has been considered. His last ten years were particularly sad, spending them isolated in a set of rooms in Windsor Castle. He died at the age of 82, in 1820, having been a much loved monarch by the people, if not his governments.
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between.
Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn
Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible
The finest example that we have offered for sale.
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