ELIZABETH. (1558 to 1603.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat, Threepence, Half-groat, Three-halfpence, Penny, Three-farthing, Halfpenny.Gold.Sovereign or Double-rial, Rial, Pound-sovereign, Half-sovereign, Crown, Half-crown, Angel, Angelet, Quarter-angel.Obverse.—Type.Silver. Crown and Half-crown, sinister bust profile, crowned, open double-arched crown, hair turned back, draped, robe with wide puffed sleeves, stiff frill round the neck; in the right hand the sceptre, the orb as if held in the left. The Shilling, Sixpence, Groat, Threepence, Half-groat, Three-halfpence, Penny, Three-farthing, Halfpenny, and Farthing have also the bust profile, crowned with a single-arched crown, hair long and flowing down the back, draped robe, much plainer than before, and having no sceptre or orb.[4]The Sixpence, Threepence, Three-halfpence, and Three-farthing pieces are distinguished from the others by having the Tudor rose behind the head. It was in reference to this distinguishing mark of a rose behind the head that the satirist on costumes wrote:—“... Behind her head a roseThat people cry, ‘Lo! there Three-farthings goes!’”The commonest Halfpenny has a portcullis instead of the bust; the one with the bust is extremely rare. The “milled” money is neater in execution than the earlier “hammered” pieces. The “portcullis” money, struck in 1601 for foreign use, has on the obverse the royal arms, surmounted by a crown, between the initials E. and R., each crowned, and the usual name and titles of the queen; reverse, a portcullis crowned, and thePOSVI, etc., legend.Legend.E.ELIZ.ELIZAB.orELIZABETH.—D.G.ANG.FR.(orFRA.)ET. HIB.(orHIBER.)REG.(REGIorREGINA). Three-halfpence, Penny, etc.,E. R.,—E. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA.Reverse.—Type.Cross fleury, or plain cross, and shield of France and England; the shield on the crown mantled. Halfpenny, cross and pellets. Farthing, crowned monogram of name.Legend.POSVI DEVM ADIVTOREM MEVM, or its abbreviations; or name of town.Gold.Sovereign, or Double-rial, same general type as the Sovereign of Mary. Pound-sovereign, Half-sovereign, Crown and Half-crown, sinister bust fully robed, crowned with an open crown of two, four, or five arches. Rial, with the queen in a large ruff, standing in a ship, crowned, etc. Angels, Angelets, and Quarter-angels, St. Michael and the Dragon; reverse, a ship, royal shield in front, surmounted by a cross, withE.and a rose. Some of the legends on the reverses of gold coins are,A DNO. FACTV. EST ISTVD ET EST MIRAB. IN OCVL. NRS;IHS. AVT TRANSIENS PER MEDIV. ILLORVM IBAT;SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM; andone Rial, referring to the taking of Virginia by Sir Walter Raleigh, has on its obverseELIZAB [ETHA] D [EI] G [RATIA] ANG [LIÆ] FR[ANCIÆ]ETM[AGNÆ]PR[OVINCIÆ]C[APTÆ]A[VSPICIIS]I[LLIVS] REGINA(“Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France, and the Great Province captured under her auspices”).In this reign pattern copper coins were struck, but never issued. The Penny bore on the obverse a full-face portrait of the queen, and the wordsTHE PLEDGE OF; and on the reverse the crowned monogram, and the continuation of the legend,A PENNY, and date 1601. Other pattern pieces were also struck of copper, lead, pewter, and leather, but are all extremely rare.JAMES I. (1603 to 1625.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Half-groat, Penny, and Halfpenny.Gold.First issue. Sovereign or Thirty-shilling-piece, Half-sovereign or Double-crown (15s.), Quarter-sovereign or Crown (7s.6d.), Eighth-of-Sovereign or Half-crown (3s.9d.). Second issue. Unit (20s.), Double-crown (10s.), British-crown (5s.), Half-British-crown (2s.6d.), Thistle-crown (4s.). Third issue. Rose-rial or Sovereign (30s.), Spur-rial (15s.), Angel (10s.), Angelet or Half-angel (5s.). Last issue. Rose-rial or Sovereign (Thirty-shilling-piece), Spur Rial (Fifteen-shilling-piece), Angel, Laurel or Unit, Double-crown or Half-laurel, British-crown or Quarter-laurel. The current values were from time to time raised.Obverse.—Type.Crown and Half-crown, king on horseback, in armour, crowned, drawn sword in his right hand; on the caparison the royal rose or the thistle crowned.On someIACOBVS D G MA(orMAG)BRI(orBRIT)FRA(orFRAN)ET HI(orHIBorHIBER)REX.Shilling, Half-shilling, etc., dexter bust profile, robed, crowned; long pointed beard and mustachios, hair short, numerals at back of head for value. Twopence, the bust as before on some, on others the royal rose crowned. Penny, bust as before, orI. R.crowned; a rose on one side the letters, and a thistle on the other: others, a rose. Halfpenny, a portcullis, or rose.Legend.I.IA.IACOBV.orIACOBVS.D. G. ANG. SCO. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX., and other abbreviations. Half-groat, etc.,I. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA. Penny withI. R.; and Halfpenny, no legend.Reverse..—Type.Crown, etc., royal arms, quarterly, 1 and 4, France and England quarterly; 2, Scotland; 3, Ireland. The shield of the Crown and Half-crown mantled, the others plain; Twopence, on some the same arms, on others a thistle, crowned. The Penny, withI. R.has a portcullis crowned; the others, a thistle; others have the arms. Halfpenny, cross moline with three pellets in each quarter; or a thistle.Legend.Crown, Shilling, etc.,EXVRGAT DEVS. DISSIPENTVR INIMICI; orQUÆ DEVS CONIVNXIT NEMO SEPARET. Half-groat, Penny,TVETVR VNITA DEVS. Penny same as Half-groat; other pennies and halfpennies without legend.Rarity.All common, except Half-crown.Gold.Thirty-shilling, Unit, and other pieces, king enthroned, in full regalia, his feet upon a portcullis, the field diapered; or half-length or shorter portrait of king in armour, crowned, sceptre in right and orb in left hand: reverse, shield of arms. Rose-rial, king enthroned as before; reverse, a large double rose with shield of arms. Spur-rial, king in armour, standing in a ship with sword and shield; or, the Scottish lion, sejant, crowned, holding a sceptre in his right paw and supporting with his left a shield of the royal arms; reverse, within a tressure a Spur-rowel, or star of 16 points centred with a rose, four points terminated with lions, and four with fleurs-de-lis. Angel, etc., usual type. Thistle crown, a double rose on its stem, crowned, between the initialsI. R.; reverse, a thistle crowned in like manner. Some of the legends or reverses areEXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI;TVEATVR VNITA DEVS;FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM VNAM;HENRICVS ROSAS, REGNA IACOBVS;A DNO. FACTVM EST ISTVD ET EST MIRAB. IN OCVLIS NRIS;A DNO. FACTVM EST ISTVD, etc.Copper.Farthing, crown and two sceptres in saltire,IACO. D. G. BRIT.Reverse, Irish harp, crowned,FRA. ET. HIB. REX.For Scotland a brass Twopence, called “Hardhead” was struck: obverse three thistles on one stem,IACOBVS D. G. MAG BRIT; reverse, lion rampant,FRANandHIB REX.CHARLES I. (1625 to 1649).Denominations.—Silver.Twenty-shilling-piece or Pound, Ten-shilling-piece or Half-pound, Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat, Threepence, Half-groat, Penny, and Halfpenny.Gold.Tower Mint. Unit, Broad, or Twenty-shilling-piece; Double-crown or Half-broad or Ten-shilling-piece; crown, Britain-crown, or Five-shilling-piece, Angel. Oxford Mint, Treble-Unit, or Three-Pound-piece; Unit or Twenty-shilling-piece; Half-unit, Double-crown, or Ten-shilling-piece. Briot’s Mint. Unit, Double-crown, or Half Unit, Angel.Obverse.—Type.Twenty-shilling and Ten-shilling-piece, king on horseback with or without artillery, armour, arms, etc., under horse’s feet. Crowns and Half-crowns, king in armour on horseback, but with very many variations in detail. One description is as much as our limits will allow. The Oxford Crown, the rarest in the series, has the king on horseback, in armour, to the left, crowned, double-arched crown, drawn sword in his right hand, a sash round his neck, coming under his left arm, the ends flying behind; the horse not caparisoned, having only a saddle cloth. On the field of the coin, beneath the horse, is a view of the city of Oxford, with the wordOXONabove it. This coin is beautifully executed. Shilling, Half-shilling, Quarter-shilling, Groat, Half-groat, and Penny, sinister bust profile, in robes, crowned, hair long and flowing, beard long. Some Groats and Half-groats have a rose crowned as also have Pennies. Halfpenny, a rose, no legend, or a rose crowned betweenC. R.The variations in the coins, consequent on the number of mints set up—London, Exeter, Aberystwith, Oxford, Bristol, Chester, Worcester, Weymouth, York, and other places—is very great; the differences being more or less important both as to mint marks and other features.Legend.C.CAR.orCAROLVS.D. G. MAGNA BRITAN. FRAN. ET HIBER. REX, variously abbreviated. Oxford Crown,CAROLVS. D. G. MAG. BRIT. FRAN. ET. HIBER. REX.Reverse.—Type.Generally the royal shield. The Oxford Crown and some other coins have no device, except an ornament to divide the legends; and the Prince of Wales’ feathers three times repeated, or single, above. On some, the shield (which is as James I.’s) is oval, and mantled, sometimes crowned; others have shields, the quarterings terminating in a cross moline, etc. The smaller coins have sometimes a rose crowned, sceptres, or sceptre and trident in saltire, etc., or the declarationEXVRGAT, etc., in lines across. One Half-groat has two Cs interlinked, crowned.Legend.Oxford Crown,EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI. In the field of the coin, in two parallel lines, isRELIG. PROT. LEG. ANG. LIBER. PARL., beneath which is 1644,OXON, and above v. for value. A branch of leaves and flowers between the words of the first. Others haveCHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO. OthersIVSTITIA THRONVM FIRMAT, orTVEATVR VNITA DEVS. The groat hasRELIG., etc., within a scroll on the field,EXURGAT, etc.Rarity.For the most part common. The Oxford crown is of the most extreme rarity, and most of the Oxford mintages are rare, as are those of Aberystwith and other places.Gold.Three-pound-piece, crowned profile bust to the waist, with or without sword and olive branch; feathers behind the head; reverse, declaration in three lines. Unit or Broad-piece, bust profile, crowned, much varied on some with drawn sword and olive branch; behind the headXXfor value. Reverse: On field,RELIG., etc., on a ribband. Double-crown and Crown, bust profile crowned. Reverse. Shield crowned,CVLTORES. SVI. DEVS. PROTEGIT. Angel same type as its predecessors.Copper.—Halfpence and Farthings, David playing the harp, looking upward; above, a crown,FLOREAT REX. Reverse: Halfpenny, St. Patrick in full robes, mitered, with crosier, etc., holding to figures around him the shamrock leaf; behind him the arms of Dublin. Farthing, St. Patrick as before, stretching his hand over reptiles; behind him a cathedral; legend,QVIESCAT PLEBS. Other Halfpence, Farthings and Half-farthings have on obverse two sceptres in saltire, behind, a crown, orC. R.crowned. Reverse: Some, the royal rose crowned; others, the Irish harp crowned; and others, again, the Scotch thistle; others, a small pellet of brass inserted in the centre of the rose.Legend.Obverse:CAR.CARO.orCAROLVS.—D. G. MAG. BRIT.Reverse: On some, the Scotch motto,NEMO., etc.; others, continuation of titles.ObsidionalorSiege Pieces. These rude coins, if coins theycan be called, were struck by the king, and those favourable to his cause, to supply that monarch with the necessary funds for carrying on his wars. They are extremely interesting, as showing the various inconveniences and shifts the king was subject to. The nobility and gentry, his partisans, were applied to for the use of all their plate, as were also wardens and fellows of the different colleges in the universities of Oxford, etc., the mayors and corporations, of cities and towns, etc. The plate thus collected was chopped up, for the greatest part, in unmeaning shapes, and struck or engraved with different devices, and the value. The Scarborough Half-crown is a piece of thin plate doubled, the corners turned over to hold together. On one side is engraven in a very rude manner the castle, with the value in numerals; and on the other,OBS. SCARBOROUGH, 1645. The Newark Shilling, which is one of the commonest, is lozenge shaped. Obverse, crown betweenC. R.; beneath,XII. Reverse,OBS. NEWARK, 1646. Pontefract, sometimes an octagonal, and sometimes a round piece. Obverse,C. R.under a crown;DVM SPIRO SPERO. Reverse, Pontefract Castle, with name or letters. Other places where these were struck were Colchester, Carlisle, Dublin, Cork, etc. At Colchester a gold siege piece of the value of 10s. was struck. A history of the coinage in this reign alone would fill a folio volume.COMMONWEALTH. (1649 to 1660.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Half-groat, Penny, Halfpenny.Gold.Broad, or Twenty-shilling-piece; Half-broad, or Ten-shilling-piece; Quarter-broad, or Five-shilling-piece.Obverse.—Type.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Half-shilling, Half-groat, and Penny, a plain shield charged with the cross of St. George, encircled by a branch of palm, and an olive branch. Halfpenny, same shield, without branches or numerals. Numerals to denote value (as V for 5s.; II VI for 2s.6d.; XII for 12d.; VI for 6d.; II for 2d.) on all except the Halfpennies.Legend.THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND.Half-groat, Penny, and Halfpenny, no legend or numerals. Half-shilling, one type hasTRVTH AND PEACE.Reverse.—Type.Shield of St. George’s cross, and shield of Irish harp conjoined, above which is the value, in numerals. Halfpenny, single shield of the Irish harp.Legend.GOD WITH US, and date. Half-groat and Penny, without legend. Halfpenny without legend or value.Rarity.All comparatively common; the coins of 1658 and 1660 are rarest.Gold.Twenty-shilling, Ten-shilling, and Five-shilling pieces, same type and legend as the silver; numerals to denote value.Copper.Farthings. On the obverse a shield of St. George’s cross as before; reverse, shield of Irish harp; legend,FARTHING TOKENS OF ENGLAND.ENGLAND’S FARTHING.THE FARTHINTOKENS FOR.FOR NECESSITY OF CHANGE, 1649.RELEFE OF THE PORE, etc. Pewter Farthing, shield with voided cross, surmounted by the letters,T.K., in an oval; legend, ¼OVNCE OF FINE PEWTR. Reverse: shield of Irish harp, upon rays, surmounted by a palm and laurel wreath; legend,FOR NECESSARY CHANGE. These are all pattern pieces, and are all rare. Several pattern pieces for other coins are also known. One of these has the two shields on the reverse held by a winged angel, and the wordsGVARDED WITH ANGELS, 1651.PROTECTORATE.—OLIVER CROMWELL. (1653 to 1658.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Nine-pence, and Sixpence.Gold.Fifty-shilling-piece, Broad or Twenty-shilling-piece, Half-broad or Ten-shilling-piece.Copper.Farthings.Obverse.Type.Sinister bust profile of the Protector, draped, loose drapery, head laureated, hair long.Legend.OLIVAR. D.G. RP. ANG. SCO. ET HIB.andPRO.or otherwise abbreviated.Reverse.—Type.Shield surmounted by an open arched crown, bearing quarterly, 1 and 4, cross of St. George; 2, cross of St. Andrew; 3, Irish harp, upon an escutcheon of pretence, the arms of Cromwell, a lion rampant.coinLegend.PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO.and date.Edge.HAS NISI PERITVRVS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO.Gold.Same type and legend as silver. On the edge of the fifty-shilling-piece,PROTECTOR LITERIS LITERÆ NVMMIS CORONA ET SALVS.Copper.Farthing. Obverse, head as before,OLIVAR PRO ENG SC IRL. Reverse, shield as before, and legendCHARITIE AND CHANGE; another, three columns tied together, having on top of the first a cross, the second a harp, and the third a thistle, and the legendTHVS VNITED INVINCIBLE; another, a ship under sail, and legend,AND GOD DIRECT OVR COVRS; another,CONVENIENT CHANGE.CHARLES II. (1660 to 1685.)Denominations.—Silver.First issue, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Half-groat, Penny. Second, same. Third, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence or Groat, Threepence, Half-groat, Penny. Fourth, Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence.Gold.Broad or Twenty-shilling-piece, Half-broad or Ten-shilling-piece, Quarter-broad or Five-shilling-piece. Five-Guinea-piece, Two-guinea-piece, Guinea, Half-guinea.Copper.Halfpenny and Farthing.Tin.Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Sinister laureated bust profile, crowned, loose drapery, hair long and flowing.Legend.CAROLVS. II. D.G.(orDEI. GRA.orGRATIA).MAG. BRI. FRA. ET HIB. REX, or otherwise abbreviated.Reverse.—Type.The first three issues of coins bore a plain shield of arms, quarterly, 1 and 4 France and England quarterly, 2 Scotland, 3 Ireland, over a cross fleury. Those of the fourth and last issue bear four shields, with the bottoms joined, forming a cross; the shields being England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, each crowned; in the centre, within a star, St. George’s cross. Between the shields, in the four compartments, are two Cs interlinked. One Shilling has one shield of France and England, quarterly, two shields of Scotland, and one of Ireland, not crowned; between the shields are the interlinked Cs crowned. The Fourpence has a monogram of four Cs interlinked, in form of a cross, crowned; and in the compartments are severally a rose, a thistle, a fleur-de-lis, and a harp. The Threepence has three Cs interlinked; the Twopence two Cs interlinked; and the Penny a single C, all crowned; these denote the value; others have numerals crowned.Legend.MAG. BR. FRA. ET HIB. REX., or otherwise abbreviated, and date.CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO.Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO XVorVICESIMO, or other year of reign.Gold.Same type, sceptres between shields. Obverse: Bust, laureated and draped, with long hair. Reverse: First issue, arms, etc., as on silver; later issue, Five-guinea, Guinea, etc., four shields arranged as a cross, and each crowned; in the centre four Cs interlinked, from which issue four sceptres, terminating respectively in orb and cross, thistle, fleur-de-lis, and harp. Legend on reverses,FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, or titles. Edge,DECVS ET TVTAMEN, and year of reign as on the silver.Copper.Halfpence and Farthings, sinister bust profile, laureated, in armour. English,CAROLVS A CAROLO. Scotch,CAR. II. D. G. SCO. AN. FR. ET HIB. R.Irish,CAROLVS II DEI GRATIA. Reverse, English, figure of Britannia, which now first appears; Irish, a harp crowned, date on field; Scotch, a thistle crowned. English,BRITANNIA, date in exergue; Irish,MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB. REX.; Scotch,NEMO ME IMPVNE LACESSET.and date; all common. Farthing with Britannia particularly so.Tin or Pewter.Halfpence and Farthings, some with a plug of copper in the centre. On the edge,NVMMORVM FAMVLVSand date.Siege pieces of Charles II.,CAROLVS SECVNDVS, orCAROL. II. D.G. MAG. B. F. ET H. REX.; and on the reverse,C. R.under a crown;DVM SPIRO SPERO, orPOST MORTEM PATRIS PRO FILIOwere struck at Pontefract.I may here mention a most splendid specimen of the die-sinker’s art, produced by Simon, the celebrated die-sinker, as a trial piece against an artist who was employed by Charles. The obverse has a bust of the king of most exquisite workmanship, and round theedgeof the coin, in place ofDECVS., etc., was this simple petition in two lines: “THOMAS. SIMON.most humbly prays yourMAJESTYto compare this, his tryal piece, with the Dutch, and, if more trulydrawn, and embossed, more gracefully ordered, and more accurately engraven, to relieve him.” At Trattle’s sale, in 1832, a very fine specimen sold for £225. It is said that only twenty copies were struck with the petition on the edge, and a few others with a different edge,REDDITE QVAE CAESARES CAESARI&POST; and one is recorded to be known bearing,RENDER TO CÆSAR THE THINGS WHICH ARE CÆSAR’S.coinJAMES II. (1685 to 1689.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea.Tin or Pewter.Halfpenny, Farthing.Gun Money.As silver.Obverse.—Type.Sinister bust profile, laureated, on some draped, on others undraped; hair long. The Crown has the king in armour on horseback, with drawn sword.Legend.IACOBVS. II. DEI. GRATIA.Reverse.—Type.Shields in cross, etc. The Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny have the value,IIII.,III.,II.,I., crowned.Legend.MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB. REX.and date.Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMEN REX, and year of reign.Gun Money.Silver being scarce in this reign, an issue of base money was resorted to, some of which, being struck from the old cannon and domestic utensils melted down, is called “Gun Money.” The Crown, which is scarce, has the king in armour, laureated, on horseback, with a drawn sword, a long sash flying behind; reverse, four shields in cross, with the crown in the centre; the Half-crowns, Shillings, and Sixpences have two sceptres in saltire, behind a crown, between I. R.; above the crown are numerals for value, and beneath, the month in which it was struck.Gold.The Five-guinea-piece is rare, the others common. They are of the same general type as the silver.Tin or Pewter.Halfpence and Farthings: obverse, bust profile, as before; reverse, English, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIA; Irish, figure of Hibernia with the harp,HIBERNIA, or Irish harp crowned. Half-farthings: obverse, sceptres in saltire, and crown; reverse, harp or rose, crowned. There is also a kind called plug-money; this was struck owing to a scarcity of copper; it is of pewter, and in the middle is inserted a very small square plug of copper, to show that it is intended to pass for copper money. One tin Halfpenny has the king on horseback with drawn sword, on the obverse, and on the reverse the harp surmounted by a crown with lion crest, and two sceptres in saltire; in this two or more plugs of brass are inserted. Other varieties need not be particularized. White metal coins were also issued.WILLIAM III. AND MARY II. (1689 to 1702. 1689 to 1694.)Denominations.Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-Guinea.Tin.Halfpenny, Farthing.Copper.Halfpenny, Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Dexter busts profile of king and queen, (William and Mary) side by side, that of the king laureated, partly in armour. Queen draped, hair curled; some have the bust of Mary only; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, busts undraped. After Mary’s death, the bust of William, profile and laureated, appears alone.Legend.First,GVLIELMVS ET MARIAorGVLIELMVS ET MARIA DEI GRATIA. Later,GVLIELMVS TERTIVS.orGVLIELMVSIII.DEI GRATIA.Reverse.—Type.Four crowned shields in cross, as before; in the centre, the shield of Nassau; between the shields,W.andM.conjoined; the four figures of the date, as 1693, one under each monograph. Some Half-crowns have a plain shield of the royal arms, crowned; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values crowned. After the death of Mary, feathers on some, and on others roses, take the place of the monogram ofWandMbetween the shields; on others the space is left blank.Legend.MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX ET REGINA, or the same, leaving off “et regina.”Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMENand year of reign.Gold.Busts as before; reverse, royal arms in large shield, crowned. After Mary’s death, reverse, shields in cross, with sceptres, as on the silver.Copper.Halfpence and Farthings. Obverse, busts as before,GVLIELMVS ET MARIA, orGVLIELMVS TERTIVS. Reverse, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIA, date in exergue; Irish,GVLIELMVS ET MARIA DEI GRATIA; reverse, Irish harp crowned,MAG BR FR ET HIB REX ET REGINA, date on field. There are coins also,of Mary’s only, one of which has, on obverse, bust profile of queen, draped, hair turned up behind,MARIA II DEI GRATIA; reverse, full blown rose on a branch,EX CANDORE DECVS. After the queen’s death, the coins have the bust of William, as before, withGVLIELMVS TERTIVS; reverse, same as before. Scotch have, on obverse, a sword and sceptre in saltire, with a crown above: reverse, thistle, crowned; another has a monogram.ANNE. (1702 to 1714.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea.Copper.Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Sinister bust profile, draped, hair thrown back, and tied at back of head with a ribband, which passes round the head.Legend.ANNA DEI GRATIA.Reverse.—Type.Four crowned shields in cross. Before the union these shields were, 1 England, 2 Scotland, 3 France, 4 Ireland. After the union they were altered to two shields of England and Scotland impaled, one of France, and one of Ireland. In the centre, the cross of St. George, in a star of the garter; between the shields, feathers or roses, or feathers and roses alternately; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values, crowned.Legend.MAG BRI FR ET HIB REGand date.Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMEN, and year of reign.Rarity.All common. The smaller denominations scarcer than the others.Gold.Same type and legend and edge. Reverse, sceptres between the shields.Copper.As there is so much popular error concerning the farthings, it may be well to remark at length upon them, in order to clear away the absurd idea generally entertained, of there being only three in existence. Instead of this being the case, there are absolutely six distinct varieties. The first, which is the only one which was ever in general circulation, has, on the obverse, sinister bust profile, of queen, draped, hair thrown back, encircled with a string of pearls,ANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, figure of Britannia, olive branch in her right, and spear in her left hand,BRITANNIA, date, 1714, in exergue: this, although scarce, is by far the commonest of the whole: there is one with the same type, but broad rim, which is rare. Second, bust as before,ANNA REGINA; reverse, as last. Third, same bust,ANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, figure of Britannia, right leg bare;BRITANNIA, 1713, round. Fourth, obverse as before; reverse, Britannia, as last, under an arch;BRITANNIAin exergue, 1713. Fifth, bust as before, with band instead of pearls, within an inner circle (the busts on the others are on the field); reverse, figure of Britannia standing, helmeted, in the right hand the olive branch, and in her left the spear, within inner circle;BELLO ET PACE; date 1715, in exergue. Sixth,bust as one,ANNA AVGVSTA; reverse, same figure as last, standing in a car, drawn by two horses; in her right hand she holds the olive branch, in her left the reins and a spear;PAX MISSA PER ORBEM; in exergue, 1713. The prices depend upon the state of preservation of the coins, but, forFINEones, the following are about the values: 1, from six shillings to fourteen shillings; 2 and 3, from fifteen shillings to thirty shillings; 3, 4, and 6, from two to three pounds: 5, the rarest, from five to ten, or twelve pounds. There is a small medal, or counter, which is very frequently mistaken by the generality of persons for one of her farthings. It has on the obverse the bust, withANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, the four shields in cross, sometimes plain, and sometimes with roses between the shields,MAG BR FRA ET HIB REG1711; frequentlyRIGinstead ofREG. Some of these are of beautiful workmanship, and others very rude: they are far from being scarce; they were not struck as current coins. Halfpenny, bust,ANNA D G MAG BR FR ET HIB REG; reverse, sitting figure of Britannia, leaning on a shield, in her left hand a spear, in her right a rose and thistle emanating from the same branch; the whole beneath a crown.GEORGE I. (1714 to 1727.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea, Quarter-guinea.Copper.Halfpenny, Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Dexter laureated bust profile, in armour and draped, hair long and curled.Legend.GEORGIVS D. G. M. BR. FR. ET. HIB. REX. F. D.Reverse.—Type.Four crowned shields in cross. 1, England and Scotland impaled; 2, France; 3, Ireland; 4, Brunswick, and Lunenberg with Hanoverian escutcheon. Between the shields, on some, are a rose and thistle or feathers alternately; on others, S. S. C. (South Sea Company, silver), etc., indicative of the kind of silver of which they are minted; in the centre is the star and cross of St. George. Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values crowned.Legend.BRVN. ET. L. DVX. S. R. I. A. TH. ET. EL., reading on from the obverse; thus, in full, “Georgius, Dei gratia, Magnæ Britanniæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, Brunsvicensis et Lunenbergensis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Thesaurarius et Princeps Elector” (or Elector only), and date.Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMEN, and year of reign.Gold.Same general type and legend as the silver.Copper.Halfpence and Farthings. Obverse, dexter bust profile, draped, laureated,GEORGIVS REX. Reverse, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIA, date in exergue. The Farthing has a broad rim. Obverse, Irish Halfpence, bust as before, undraped,GEORGIVS DEI GRATIA REX; reverse, figure of Hibernia, with harp,HIBERNIA; date in same line.GEORGE II. (1727 to 1760.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea.Copper.Halfpenny, Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Sinister laureated bust profile, in armour, hair long and curled; under the head of some isLIMA.Legend.GEORGIVS II DEI GRATIA.Reverse.—Type.Four crowned shields in cross as on those of George I. In the centre of some is the motto,HONI SOIT, etc., on the garter round the cross, as George I. On some, plain between the shields; on others, a rose and Welsh feathers alternately, four roses or four feathers, to denote the silver from which they are minted. Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values, crowned.Legend.M. B. F. ET. H. REX. F. D. B. ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T. ET. E., as explained under George I., and date. Penny,MAG. BRI. FR. ET. HIB. REX., and date.Gold.Bust, undraped, laureated; reverse, royal arms in an ornamented shield, crowned.Copper.Halfpence and Farthings. Bust as before, laureated and in armour,GEORGIVS II REX.; reverse, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIA, date in exergue. Irish Halfpence and Farthings, same bust, undraped; reverse, Irish harp, crowned,HIBERNIA, and date.GEORGE III. (1760 to 1820.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Guinea (21s.), Half-guinea (10s.6d.), Third-of-guinea or Seven-shilling-piece (7s.), Quarter-of-guinea (5s.3d.), Sovereign (20s.), Half-sovereign (10s.).Copper.Twopence, Penny, Halfpenny, Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Early issues: dexter bust profile of king, in armour, laureated, hair long; on his later coinage, bust undraped, laureated, hair short.Legend.Early:GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA.Late:GEOR.(orGEORGIVS)III. D. G. BRITT.(orBRITANNIARVM)REX. F. D.(orFID. DEF.), etc. Later coinage has the date beneath the head.Reverse.—Type.Early coinage: Four crowned or uncrowned shields in cross, as on coins of George I. and II.; the crowns in those instances where they do not surmount the shields, being placed in the angles between them. Later coinage: Crown, St. George and the Dragon within the mottoed garter, Half-crown, crowned shield of royal arms, within the garter, on which is the motto,HONI SOIT, etc.; quarterly, 1 and 4, England, 2, Scotland, 3, Ireland, Brunswick, etc., on an escutcheon surmounted by the electorate crown; the shield crowned; on another, round the garter, is the collar and badge of the order. Shillings, royal shield encircled by the garter, no legend; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values,eitherIIII. III. II. I., or in figures; one mintage, called wire-money, has the value in writing figures, all the lines of the same strength.Legend.Early:M. B. F. ET. H. REX. F. D. B. ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T. ET. E.and date. Late:BRITANNIARVM REX FID DEF or FIDEI DEFENSOR.During great scarcity of silver money in 1797 Spanish dollars and half-dollars were countermarked with a small punch of the king’s head and put into circulation as current coin of the value of 4s.9d.This stamp having been counterfeited to a considerable extent, a different one was adopted in 1804, but it in turn being much counterfeited, the whole dollar was re-stamped with a fresh octagonal device, the king’s head, etc., on the obverse, and on the reverse a figure of Britannia within an oval, crowned with a mural crown, and having the wordsBANK OF ENGLAND FIVE SHILLINGS DOLLAR, 1804. Bank of England tokens, value Six-shillings, Three-shillings, and other amounts, were also issued. Of these, and the Irish and Madras and other issues, I must forego particulars.Gold.Obverse, bust laureated; reverse, Guinea, and Half-guinea, royal arms in a “spade ace” shield, crowned; Sovereign, George and Dragon within the garter; Half-sovereign, royal shield; Seven-shillings, a crown.Copper.Early coinage: Halfpennies and Farthings, bust laureated and in armour,GEORGIVS III REX.; reverse, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIAand date; Irish, bust undraped; reverse, Irish harp crowned. 1797 and 1799, Twopence and Penny, with raised broad rim, on which is the legend, indented, bust profile, laureated, hair long, draped,GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA REX; Farthing, date under head; reverse, Britannia, bareheaded, in the right hand an olive branch, in the left a trident; seated on a rock, shield under her left hand,BRITANNIA, in the distance a ship (the water cut up to the curve of the coin), date under figure. Halfpence and Farthings, same figure of Britannia, but without the broad rim; halfpenny,BRITANNIA, date under figure; Farthing,BRITANNIA, under figure, 1FARTHING. In 1806-7, Pence, Halfpence, and Farthings, bust laureated and draped, hair short,GEORGIVS III. D. G. REX.and date. Britannia as before, water in a line across,BRITANNIA. Irish, harp, crowned,HIBERNIA, and date. A large variety of copper coins for the East India Company, Isle of Man, Prince of Wales Island, Sierra Leone, Barbadoes, Ceylon, etc., were struck, which need not be particularized.GEORGE IV. (1820 to 1830.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-sovereign, Double-sovereign, Sovereign, Half-sovereign.Copper.Penny, Halfpenny, Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Sinister large bust profile, laureated, undraped. In 1826 the bust differs, the neck and head are much narrower in proportion, and it is not laureated. These latter coins are the productionsof Mr. Wyon, from the bust by Chantrey; the former ones are Pistrucci’s.Legend.On the former,GEORGIVS IIII D. G. BRITANNIAR. F. D. Latter,GEORGIVS IV DEI GRATIA.Reverse.—Type.Crown, St. George on horseback, undraped, helmeted, loose vest flying behind, in his right hand a dagger, his left holding the reins; under the horse, a dragon, a broken lance lying beside, no legend, date in exergue, edge,DECUS, etc. This coin is of most beautiful workmanship. Half-crown, early, royal arms; on some in plain square shield, crowned, encircled by the garter, with motto,HONI, etc., or ornamented shield, crowned, a rose beneath, and a thistle on one side, and on the other a shamrock, no legend; date on the former, withANNO.; later, royal shield, beautifully mantled.Early, Shilling and Sixpence as the Half-crowns; later, royal crown and crest, a lion passant-guardant, crowned; beneath is the rose, thistle and shamrock. This is commonly known as the “lion shilling.”Legend.Later,BRITANNIARVM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR.Gold.Five-pound-piece, Double-sovereign, Sovereign, and Half-sovereign, bust as before; reverse, George and dragon; or royal shield.Copper.Pennies, Halfpennies, and Farthings; early, bust profile, laureated, draped or undraped; Pence and Halfpence,GEORGIVS IV DG REX.; Farthings,GEORGIVS IIII DEI GRATIA; Pence and Halfpence; Irish, harp, crowned,HIBERNIA.and date; Farthing, Britannia seated on a rock, facing the right, helmeted, in her left hand the trident, in her right, which rests on the shield, an olive branch, lion at her feet, no water in distance, date in exergue; later, Pence, Halfpence, and Farthings, Britannia seated helmeted, left hand the trident, right resting on shield, no olive branch, nor lion, beneath the figure, the rose, thistle, and shamrock,BRITANNIAR REX FID. DEF. A Half-farthing for Ceylon, and a one third of a Farthing, for Malta, were struck in 1827-8, and are rare.WILLIAM IV. (1830 to 1837.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat or Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny, Three-halfpence.Gold.Double-sovereign, Sovereign, Half-sovereign.Copper.Penny, Halfpenny, Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Dexter bust profile, undraped, hair short.Legend.GVLIELMVS IIII D. G. BRITANNIAR. REX F. D.Reverse.—Type.Half-crown, ermine robe surmounted by the crown, tied at the corners with cord and tassels, on the robe are the royal arms in a plain square shield, beneath which is the collar and badge of the Order of the Garter; dated with the wordANNO.; Shilling and Sixpence, within a wreath formed by branches of olive and oak is the value,ONE SHILLING.—SIXPENCE.in two lines, a crown above, beneath the wreath the date; Fourpence, figure ofBritannia,FOUR PENCE, date in exergue. Maundy money, value, crowned, within a wreath of oak branches.Gold.All the same bust as on the silver. Five-pound-piece, a pattern piece only; Double-sovereign, with arms, with mantle, garter, and crown; Sovereign, Half-sovereign, bust as before; reverse, royal arms in ornamental shield.Copper.Pence, Halfpence, and Farthings, bust as before, date under the head,GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA; reverse, Britannia, as last coinage of George IV.; beneath the figure, rose, thistle, and shamrock,BRITANNIAR REX. FID. DEF. Several colonial and other coins were also struck in silver and copper.VICTORIA. (1837.)Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Florin or Two-shilling piece, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat or Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-pound-piece, Double-sovereign or Two-pound-piece, Sovereign, Half-sovereign.Copper.Penny, Halfpenny, Farthing, Half-farthing.Bronze.Penny, Halfpenny, and Farthing.Obverse.—Type.Crown and Half-crown. Sinister bust profile of the queen, undraped, round the head two plain bands, hair parted on the forehead, carried over the top of the ear, and all gathered together at the back of the head. The Half-crown has the fore hair plaited immediately before it joins the back hair. None of these have been issued for home currency since 1851. Florin. Sinister bust profile of the queen, crowned with an open arched crown, elegantly draped over the shoulders. Shilling, Sixpence, etc., bust same as Half-crown.Legend.Crown and Half-crown,VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. Date under the head. Florin, first issue,VICTORIA REGINA, 1849; later issue,Victoria: d: g: britt: reg: f: d:and date asmdccclxviii. Shilling and sixpence,VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR REG. F. D. Fourpence and Maundy money,VICTORIA D. G. BRITANNIAR. REGINA F. D.Reverse.—Type.Crown and Half-crown, royal arms quarterly, 1 and 4, England, 2, Scotland, 3, Ireland, shield plain, crowned, within a wreath formed of two olive branches tied together at the bottom by a ribband; beneath the shield, the rose, thistle, and shamrock. Florin, first issue, in a tressure of eight arches, whose cusps have trefoil terminations, within the inner circle, four crowned shields arranged as a cross, first and third England, second Scotland, fourth Ireland. In the centre a rose; the crowns extending through the legend to the outside edge of the coin. In the four angles are, respectively, two roses, a thistle and a shamrock. Later issues, similar to the other, with a trefoiled quatrefoil instead of rose in the centre. Shilling and Sixpence; value in two lines, within a wreath formed of a branch of olive and an oak branch tied together with a ribband, above the value the royal crown, beneath the wreath the date. Fourpence, figure of Britannia seated, helmeted, in her left hand the trident, her right resting on the shield, datein exergue. Maundy money, value, crowned, within a wreath of oak branches and date.Legend.Crown and Half-crown,BRITANNIARVM REGINA FID. DEF. Florin, first issue,ONE FLORIN ONE TENTH OF A POUND; later issues,One florin one tenth of a pound. Shilling and Sixpence, the wordsONE SHILLING, andSIXPENCE, within the wreath of laurel and oak, beneath which is the date. Fourpence,FOUR PENCE. Threepence, figure 3 crowned.The most beautiful of our modern coins is a Crown-piece struck in 1847, from dies engraved by Wyon. It is in somewhat low relief, and bears on the obverse an exquisite profile portrait of the queen, to the left, filling up the entire diameter of the coin. Her Majesty wears an open four-arched crown; the hair, being plaited, is brought down below the ear, and fastened at the back of the head; shoulders and bosom draped with delicate and elaborately ornamented lace, pearls, and jewels, the portion of the robe visible being diapered with roses, thistles, and shamrocks in lozenges.Legend.Victoria dei gratia britanniar. reg: f: d. Reverse: within the inner circle four shields (two England, one Scotland, one Ireland), arranged as a cross, within a tressure of eight arches; each shield crowned, the crowns extending through the legend and to extremity of the coin. In the centre the star of the Order of the Garter, and in the angles between the shields, which are diapered, a rose twice repeated, a thistle, and a shamrock; the spandrils and the cusps trefoiled.Legend,tueatur unita deus anno dom. mdcccxlvii. Round the edgedecus· et· tutamen· anno· regni· undecim. This, usually known as the “gothic crown,” was not put in circulation.Gold.Sovereign, and Half-sovereign; obverse, same bust as the silver,VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, and date; reverse, Sovereign, royal arms, as the Half-crown; later issues, St. George and the Dragon as on those of George IV., and date; Half-sovereign, royal shield as before, without the wreath, mantled, crowned,BRITANNIARVM REGINA FID. DEF.Copper.Farthings; obverse, same as Sovereign; reverse, figure of Britannia, as before, with the rose, thistle, and shamrock beneath,BRITANNIAR REG. FID. DEF.; Half and Quarter-farthings have also been struck for the colonies to supersede the use of cowries.Bronze.Obverse: beautifully laureated profile bust of the queen, hair tied behind, draped over the shoulders; the portrait filling up the diameter of the coin; legend,VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:Reverse: figure of Britannia, helmeted and draped, holding a trident in her left hand, and her right resting on a shield of the union; in the distance, on one side, the Eddystone Lighthouse, on the other a ship in full sail.Legend:ONE PENNY, date in exergue, 1860,et seq. A large number of pattern pieces for coins of various values, and in all the metals, have at one time or other during this reign been prepared and struck, and are of the highest interest for the cabinets of collectors.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat, Threepence, Half-groat, Three-halfpence, Penny, Three-farthing, Halfpenny.Gold.Sovereign or Double-rial, Rial, Pound-sovereign, Half-sovereign, Crown, Half-crown, Angel, Angelet, Quarter-angel.
Obverse.—Type.Silver. Crown and Half-crown, sinister bust profile, crowned, open double-arched crown, hair turned back, draped, robe with wide puffed sleeves, stiff frill round the neck; in the right hand the sceptre, the orb as if held in the left. The Shilling, Sixpence, Groat, Threepence, Half-groat, Three-halfpence, Penny, Three-farthing, Halfpenny, and Farthing have also the bust profile, crowned with a single-arched crown, hair long and flowing down the back, draped robe, much plainer than before, and having no sceptre or orb.[4]The Sixpence, Threepence, Three-halfpence, and Three-farthing pieces are distinguished from the others by having the Tudor rose behind the head. It was in reference to this distinguishing mark of a rose behind the head that the satirist on costumes wrote:—
“... Behind her head a roseThat people cry, ‘Lo! there Three-farthings goes!’”
“... Behind her head a roseThat people cry, ‘Lo! there Three-farthings goes!’”
The commonest Halfpenny has a portcullis instead of the bust; the one with the bust is extremely rare. The “milled” money is neater in execution than the earlier “hammered” pieces. The “portcullis” money, struck in 1601 for foreign use, has on the obverse the royal arms, surmounted by a crown, between the initials E. and R., each crowned, and the usual name and titles of the queen; reverse, a portcullis crowned, and thePOSVI, etc., legend.
Legend.E.ELIZ.ELIZAB.orELIZABETH.—D.G.ANG.FR.(orFRA.)ET. HIB.(orHIBER.)REG.(REGIorREGINA). Three-halfpence, Penny, etc.,E. R.,—E. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA.
Reverse.—Type.Cross fleury, or plain cross, and shield of France and England; the shield on the crown mantled. Halfpenny, cross and pellets. Farthing, crowned monogram of name.
Legend.POSVI DEVM ADIVTOREM MEVM, or its abbreviations; or name of town.
Gold.Sovereign, or Double-rial, same general type as the Sovereign of Mary. Pound-sovereign, Half-sovereign, Crown and Half-crown, sinister bust fully robed, crowned with an open crown of two, four, or five arches. Rial, with the queen in a large ruff, standing in a ship, crowned, etc. Angels, Angelets, and Quarter-angels, St. Michael and the Dragon; reverse, a ship, royal shield in front, surmounted by a cross, withE.and a rose. Some of the legends on the reverses of gold coins are,A DNO. FACTV. EST ISTVD ET EST MIRAB. IN OCVL. NRS;IHS. AVT TRANSIENS PER MEDIV. ILLORVM IBAT;SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM; andone Rial, referring to the taking of Virginia by Sir Walter Raleigh, has on its obverseELIZAB [ETHA] D [EI] G [RATIA] ANG [LIÆ] FR[ANCIÆ]ETM[AGNÆ]PR[OVINCIÆ]C[APTÆ]A[VSPICIIS]I[LLIVS] REGINA(“Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France, and the Great Province captured under her auspices”).
In this reign pattern copper coins were struck, but never issued. The Penny bore on the obverse a full-face portrait of the queen, and the wordsTHE PLEDGE OF; and on the reverse the crowned monogram, and the continuation of the legend,A PENNY, and date 1601. Other pattern pieces were also struck of copper, lead, pewter, and leather, but are all extremely rare.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Half-groat, Penny, and Halfpenny.Gold.First issue. Sovereign or Thirty-shilling-piece, Half-sovereign or Double-crown (15s.), Quarter-sovereign or Crown (7s.6d.), Eighth-of-Sovereign or Half-crown (3s.9d.). Second issue. Unit (20s.), Double-crown (10s.), British-crown (5s.), Half-British-crown (2s.6d.), Thistle-crown (4s.). Third issue. Rose-rial or Sovereign (30s.), Spur-rial (15s.), Angel (10s.), Angelet or Half-angel (5s.). Last issue. Rose-rial or Sovereign (Thirty-shilling-piece), Spur Rial (Fifteen-shilling-piece), Angel, Laurel or Unit, Double-crown or Half-laurel, British-crown or Quarter-laurel. The current values were from time to time raised.
Obverse.—Type.Crown and Half-crown, king on horseback, in armour, crowned, drawn sword in his right hand; on the caparison the royal rose or the thistle crowned.
On someIACOBVS D G MA(orMAG)BRI(orBRIT)FRA(orFRAN)ET HI(orHIBorHIBER)REX.
Shilling, Half-shilling, etc., dexter bust profile, robed, crowned; long pointed beard and mustachios, hair short, numerals at back of head for value. Twopence, the bust as before on some, on others the royal rose crowned. Penny, bust as before, orI. R.crowned; a rose on one side the letters, and a thistle on the other: others, a rose. Halfpenny, a portcullis, or rose.
Legend.I.IA.IACOBV.orIACOBVS.D. G. ANG. SCO. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX., and other abbreviations. Half-groat, etc.,I. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA. Penny withI. R.; and Halfpenny, no legend.
Reverse..—Type.Crown, etc., royal arms, quarterly, 1 and 4, France and England quarterly; 2, Scotland; 3, Ireland. The shield of the Crown and Half-crown mantled, the others plain; Twopence, on some the same arms, on others a thistle, crowned. The Penny, withI. R.has a portcullis crowned; the others, a thistle; others have the arms. Halfpenny, cross moline with three pellets in each quarter; or a thistle.
Legend.Crown, Shilling, etc.,EXVRGAT DEVS. DISSIPENTVR INIMICI; orQUÆ DEVS CONIVNXIT NEMO SEPARET. Half-groat, Penny,TVETVR VNITA DEVS. Penny same as Half-groat; other pennies and halfpennies without legend.Rarity.All common, except Half-crown.
Gold.Thirty-shilling, Unit, and other pieces, king enthroned, in full regalia, his feet upon a portcullis, the field diapered; or half-length or shorter portrait of king in armour, crowned, sceptre in right and orb in left hand: reverse, shield of arms. Rose-rial, king enthroned as before; reverse, a large double rose with shield of arms. Spur-rial, king in armour, standing in a ship with sword and shield; or, the Scottish lion, sejant, crowned, holding a sceptre in his right paw and supporting with his left a shield of the royal arms; reverse, within a tressure a Spur-rowel, or star of 16 points centred with a rose, four points terminated with lions, and four with fleurs-de-lis. Angel, etc., usual type. Thistle crown, a double rose on its stem, crowned, between the initialsI. R.; reverse, a thistle crowned in like manner. Some of the legends or reverses areEXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI;TVEATVR VNITA DEVS;FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM VNAM;HENRICVS ROSAS, REGNA IACOBVS;A DNO. FACTVM EST ISTVD ET EST MIRAB. IN OCVLIS NRIS;A DNO. FACTVM EST ISTVD, etc.
Copper.Farthing, crown and two sceptres in saltire,IACO. D. G. BRIT.Reverse, Irish harp, crowned,FRA. ET. HIB. REX.For Scotland a brass Twopence, called “Hardhead” was struck: obverse three thistles on one stem,IACOBVS D. G. MAG BRIT; reverse, lion rampant,FRANandHIB REX.
Denominations.—Silver.Twenty-shilling-piece or Pound, Ten-shilling-piece or Half-pound, Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat, Threepence, Half-groat, Penny, and Halfpenny.
Gold.Tower Mint. Unit, Broad, or Twenty-shilling-piece; Double-crown or Half-broad or Ten-shilling-piece; crown, Britain-crown, or Five-shilling-piece, Angel. Oxford Mint, Treble-Unit, or Three-Pound-piece; Unit or Twenty-shilling-piece; Half-unit, Double-crown, or Ten-shilling-piece. Briot’s Mint. Unit, Double-crown, or Half Unit, Angel.
Obverse.—Type.Twenty-shilling and Ten-shilling-piece, king on horseback with or without artillery, armour, arms, etc., under horse’s feet. Crowns and Half-crowns, king in armour on horseback, but with very many variations in detail. One description is as much as our limits will allow. The Oxford Crown, the rarest in the series, has the king on horseback, in armour, to the left, crowned, double-arched crown, drawn sword in his right hand, a sash round his neck, coming under his left arm, the ends flying behind; the horse not caparisoned, having only a saddle cloth. On the field of the coin, beneath the horse, is a view of the city of Oxford, with the wordOXONabove it. This coin is beautifully executed. Shilling, Half-shilling, Quarter-shilling, Groat, Half-groat, and Penny, sinister bust profile, in robes, crowned, hair long and flowing, beard long. Some Groats and Half-groats have a rose crowned as also have Pennies. Halfpenny, a rose, no legend, or a rose crowned betweenC. R.The variations in the coins, consequent on the number of mints set up—London, Exeter, Aberystwith, Oxford, Bristol, Chester, Worcester, Weymouth, York, and other places—is very great; the differences being more or less important both as to mint marks and other features.
Legend.C.CAR.orCAROLVS.D. G. MAGNA BRITAN. FRAN. ET HIBER. REX, variously abbreviated. Oxford Crown,CAROLVS. D. G. MAG. BRIT. FRAN. ET. HIBER. REX.
Reverse.—Type.Generally the royal shield. The Oxford Crown and some other coins have no device, except an ornament to divide the legends; and the Prince of Wales’ feathers three times repeated, or single, above. On some, the shield (which is as James I.’s) is oval, and mantled, sometimes crowned; others have shields, the quarterings terminating in a cross moline, etc. The smaller coins have sometimes a rose crowned, sceptres, or sceptre and trident in saltire, etc., or the declarationEXVRGAT, etc., in lines across. One Half-groat has two Cs interlinked, crowned.
Legend.Oxford Crown,EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI. In the field of the coin, in two parallel lines, isRELIG. PROT. LEG. ANG. LIBER. PARL., beneath which is 1644,OXON, and above v. for value. A branch of leaves and flowers between the words of the first. Others haveCHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO. OthersIVSTITIA THRONVM FIRMAT, orTVEATVR VNITA DEVS. The groat hasRELIG., etc., within a scroll on the field,EXURGAT, etc.
Rarity.For the most part common. The Oxford crown is of the most extreme rarity, and most of the Oxford mintages are rare, as are those of Aberystwith and other places.
Gold.Three-pound-piece, crowned profile bust to the waist, with or without sword and olive branch; feathers behind the head; reverse, declaration in three lines. Unit or Broad-piece, bust profile, crowned, much varied on some with drawn sword and olive branch; behind the headXXfor value. Reverse: On field,RELIG., etc., on a ribband. Double-crown and Crown, bust profile crowned. Reverse. Shield crowned,CVLTORES. SVI. DEVS. PROTEGIT. Angel same type as its predecessors.
Copper.—Halfpence and Farthings, David playing the harp, looking upward; above, a crown,FLOREAT REX. Reverse: Halfpenny, St. Patrick in full robes, mitered, with crosier, etc., holding to figures around him the shamrock leaf; behind him the arms of Dublin. Farthing, St. Patrick as before, stretching his hand over reptiles; behind him a cathedral; legend,QVIESCAT PLEBS. Other Halfpence, Farthings and Half-farthings have on obverse two sceptres in saltire, behind, a crown, orC. R.crowned. Reverse: Some, the royal rose crowned; others, the Irish harp crowned; and others, again, the Scotch thistle; others, a small pellet of brass inserted in the centre of the rose.Legend.Obverse:CAR.CARO.orCAROLVS.—D. G. MAG. BRIT.Reverse: On some, the Scotch motto,NEMO., etc.; others, continuation of titles.
ObsidionalorSiege Pieces. These rude coins, if coins theycan be called, were struck by the king, and those favourable to his cause, to supply that monarch with the necessary funds for carrying on his wars. They are extremely interesting, as showing the various inconveniences and shifts the king was subject to. The nobility and gentry, his partisans, were applied to for the use of all their plate, as were also wardens and fellows of the different colleges in the universities of Oxford, etc., the mayors and corporations, of cities and towns, etc. The plate thus collected was chopped up, for the greatest part, in unmeaning shapes, and struck or engraved with different devices, and the value. The Scarborough Half-crown is a piece of thin plate doubled, the corners turned over to hold together. On one side is engraven in a very rude manner the castle, with the value in numerals; and on the other,OBS. SCARBOROUGH, 1645. The Newark Shilling, which is one of the commonest, is lozenge shaped. Obverse, crown betweenC. R.; beneath,XII. Reverse,OBS. NEWARK, 1646. Pontefract, sometimes an octagonal, and sometimes a round piece. Obverse,C. R.under a crown;DVM SPIRO SPERO. Reverse, Pontefract Castle, with name or letters. Other places where these were struck were Colchester, Carlisle, Dublin, Cork, etc. At Colchester a gold siege piece of the value of 10s. was struck. A history of the coinage in this reign alone would fill a folio volume.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Half-groat, Penny, Halfpenny.Gold.Broad, or Twenty-shilling-piece; Half-broad, or Ten-shilling-piece; Quarter-broad, or Five-shilling-piece.
Obverse.—Type.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Half-shilling, Half-groat, and Penny, a plain shield charged with the cross of St. George, encircled by a branch of palm, and an olive branch. Halfpenny, same shield, without branches or numerals. Numerals to denote value (as V for 5s.; II VI for 2s.6d.; XII for 12d.; VI for 6d.; II for 2d.) on all except the Halfpennies.
Legend.THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND.Half-groat, Penny, and Halfpenny, no legend or numerals. Half-shilling, one type hasTRVTH AND PEACE.
Reverse.—Type.Shield of St. George’s cross, and shield of Irish harp conjoined, above which is the value, in numerals. Halfpenny, single shield of the Irish harp.
Legend.GOD WITH US, and date. Half-groat and Penny, without legend. Halfpenny without legend or value.
Rarity.All comparatively common; the coins of 1658 and 1660 are rarest.
Gold.Twenty-shilling, Ten-shilling, and Five-shilling pieces, same type and legend as the silver; numerals to denote value.
Copper.Farthings. On the obverse a shield of St. George’s cross as before; reverse, shield of Irish harp; legend,FARTHING TOKENS OF ENGLAND.ENGLAND’S FARTHING.THE FARTHINTOKENS FOR.FOR NECESSITY OF CHANGE, 1649.RELEFE OF THE PORE, etc. Pewter Farthing, shield with voided cross, surmounted by the letters,T.K., in an oval; legend, ¼OVNCE OF FINE PEWTR. Reverse: shield of Irish harp, upon rays, surmounted by a palm and laurel wreath; legend,FOR NECESSARY CHANGE. These are all pattern pieces, and are all rare. Several pattern pieces for other coins are also known. One of these has the two shields on the reverse held by a winged angel, and the wordsGVARDED WITH ANGELS, 1651.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Nine-pence, and Sixpence.Gold.Fifty-shilling-piece, Broad or Twenty-shilling-piece, Half-broad or Ten-shilling-piece.Copper.Farthings.
Obverse.Type.Sinister bust profile of the Protector, draped, loose drapery, head laureated, hair long.
Legend.OLIVAR. D.G. RP. ANG. SCO. ET HIB.andPRO.or otherwise abbreviated.
Reverse.—Type.Shield surmounted by an open arched crown, bearing quarterly, 1 and 4, cross of St. George; 2, cross of St. Andrew; 3, Irish harp, upon an escutcheon of pretence, the arms of Cromwell, a lion rampant.
coin
Legend.PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO.and date.
Edge.HAS NISI PERITVRVS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO.
Gold.Same type and legend as silver. On the edge of the fifty-shilling-piece,PROTECTOR LITERIS LITERÆ NVMMIS CORONA ET SALVS.
Copper.Farthing. Obverse, head as before,OLIVAR PRO ENG SC IRL. Reverse, shield as before, and legendCHARITIE AND CHANGE; another, three columns tied together, having on top of the first a cross, the second a harp, and the third a thistle, and the legendTHVS VNITED INVINCIBLE; another, a ship under sail, and legend,AND GOD DIRECT OVR COVRS; another,CONVENIENT CHANGE.
Denominations.—Silver.First issue, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Half-groat, Penny. Second, same. Third, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence or Groat, Threepence, Half-groat, Penny. Fourth, Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence.Gold.Broad or Twenty-shilling-piece, Half-broad or Ten-shilling-piece, Quarter-broad or Five-shilling-piece. Five-Guinea-piece, Two-guinea-piece, Guinea, Half-guinea.Copper.Halfpenny and Farthing.Tin.Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Sinister laureated bust profile, crowned, loose drapery, hair long and flowing.
Legend.CAROLVS. II. D.G.(orDEI. GRA.orGRATIA).MAG. BRI. FRA. ET HIB. REX, or otherwise abbreviated.Reverse.—Type.The first three issues of coins bore a plain shield of arms, quarterly, 1 and 4 France and England quarterly, 2 Scotland, 3 Ireland, over a cross fleury. Those of the fourth and last issue bear four shields, with the bottoms joined, forming a cross; the shields being England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, each crowned; in the centre, within a star, St. George’s cross. Between the shields, in the four compartments, are two Cs interlinked. One Shilling has one shield of France and England, quarterly, two shields of Scotland, and one of Ireland, not crowned; between the shields are the interlinked Cs crowned. The Fourpence has a monogram of four Cs interlinked, in form of a cross, crowned; and in the compartments are severally a rose, a thistle, a fleur-de-lis, and a harp. The Threepence has three Cs interlinked; the Twopence two Cs interlinked; and the Penny a single C, all crowned; these denote the value; others have numerals crowned.
Legend.MAG. BR. FRA. ET HIB. REX., or otherwise abbreviated, and date.CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO.
Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO XVorVICESIMO, or other year of reign.
Gold.Same type, sceptres between shields. Obverse: Bust, laureated and draped, with long hair. Reverse: First issue, arms, etc., as on silver; later issue, Five-guinea, Guinea, etc., four shields arranged as a cross, and each crowned; in the centre four Cs interlinked, from which issue four sceptres, terminating respectively in orb and cross, thistle, fleur-de-lis, and harp. Legend on reverses,FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, or titles. Edge,DECVS ET TVTAMEN, and year of reign as on the silver.
Copper.Halfpence and Farthings, sinister bust profile, laureated, in armour. English,CAROLVS A CAROLO. Scotch,CAR. II. D. G. SCO. AN. FR. ET HIB. R.Irish,CAROLVS II DEI GRATIA. Reverse, English, figure of Britannia, which now first appears; Irish, a harp crowned, date on field; Scotch, a thistle crowned. English,BRITANNIA, date in exergue; Irish,MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB. REX.; Scotch,NEMO ME IMPVNE LACESSET.and date; all common. Farthing with Britannia particularly so.
Tin or Pewter.Halfpence and Farthings, some with a plug of copper in the centre. On the edge,NVMMORVM FAMVLVSand date.
Siege pieces of Charles II.,CAROLVS SECVNDVS, orCAROL. II. D.G. MAG. B. F. ET H. REX.; and on the reverse,C. R.under a crown;DVM SPIRO SPERO, orPOST MORTEM PATRIS PRO FILIOwere struck at Pontefract.
I may here mention a most splendid specimen of the die-sinker’s art, produced by Simon, the celebrated die-sinker, as a trial piece against an artist who was employed by Charles. The obverse has a bust of the king of most exquisite workmanship, and round theedgeof the coin, in place ofDECVS., etc., was this simple petition in two lines: “THOMAS. SIMON.most humbly prays yourMAJESTYto compare this, his tryal piece, with the Dutch, and, if more trulydrawn, and embossed, more gracefully ordered, and more accurately engraven, to relieve him.” At Trattle’s sale, in 1832, a very fine specimen sold for £225. It is said that only twenty copies were struck with the petition on the edge, and a few others with a different edge,REDDITE QVAE CAESARES CAESARI&POST; and one is recorded to be known bearing,RENDER TO CÆSAR THE THINGS WHICH ARE CÆSAR’S.
coin
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea.Tin or Pewter.Halfpenny, Farthing.Gun Money.As silver.
Obverse.—Type.Sinister bust profile, laureated, on some draped, on others undraped; hair long. The Crown has the king in armour on horseback, with drawn sword.
Legend.IACOBVS. II. DEI. GRATIA.
Reverse.—Type.Shields in cross, etc. The Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny have the value,IIII.,III.,II.,I., crowned.
Legend.MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB. REX.and date.
Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMEN REX, and year of reign.
Gun Money.Silver being scarce in this reign, an issue of base money was resorted to, some of which, being struck from the old cannon and domestic utensils melted down, is called “Gun Money.” The Crown, which is scarce, has the king in armour, laureated, on horseback, with a drawn sword, a long sash flying behind; reverse, four shields in cross, with the crown in the centre; the Half-crowns, Shillings, and Sixpences have two sceptres in saltire, behind a crown, between I. R.; above the crown are numerals for value, and beneath, the month in which it was struck.Gold.The Five-guinea-piece is rare, the others common. They are of the same general type as the silver.
Tin or Pewter.Halfpence and Farthings: obverse, bust profile, as before; reverse, English, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIA; Irish, figure of Hibernia with the harp,HIBERNIA, or Irish harp crowned. Half-farthings: obverse, sceptres in saltire, and crown; reverse, harp or rose, crowned. There is also a kind called plug-money; this was struck owing to a scarcity of copper; it is of pewter, and in the middle is inserted a very small square plug of copper, to show that it is intended to pass for copper money. One tin Halfpenny has the king on horseback with drawn sword, on the obverse, and on the reverse the harp surmounted by a crown with lion crest, and two sceptres in saltire; in this two or more plugs of brass are inserted. Other varieties need not be particularized. White metal coins were also issued.
Denominations.Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-Guinea.Tin.Halfpenny, Farthing.Copper.Halfpenny, Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Dexter busts profile of king and queen, (William and Mary) side by side, that of the king laureated, partly in armour. Queen draped, hair curled; some have the bust of Mary only; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, busts undraped. After Mary’s death, the bust of William, profile and laureated, appears alone.
Legend.First,GVLIELMVS ET MARIAorGVLIELMVS ET MARIA DEI GRATIA. Later,GVLIELMVS TERTIVS.orGVLIELMVSIII.DEI GRATIA.
Reverse.—Type.Four crowned shields in cross, as before; in the centre, the shield of Nassau; between the shields,W.andM.conjoined; the four figures of the date, as 1693, one under each monograph. Some Half-crowns have a plain shield of the royal arms, crowned; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values crowned. After the death of Mary, feathers on some, and on others roses, take the place of the monogram ofWandMbetween the shields; on others the space is left blank.
Legend.MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX ET REGINA, or the same, leaving off “et regina.”
Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMENand year of reign.
Gold.Busts as before; reverse, royal arms in large shield, crowned. After Mary’s death, reverse, shields in cross, with sceptres, as on the silver.
Copper.Halfpence and Farthings. Obverse, busts as before,GVLIELMVS ET MARIA, orGVLIELMVS TERTIVS. Reverse, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIA, date in exergue; Irish,GVLIELMVS ET MARIA DEI GRATIA; reverse, Irish harp crowned,MAG BR FR ET HIB REX ET REGINA, date on field. There are coins also,of Mary’s only, one of which has, on obverse, bust profile of queen, draped, hair turned up behind,MARIA II DEI GRATIA; reverse, full blown rose on a branch,EX CANDORE DECVS. After the queen’s death, the coins have the bust of William, as before, withGVLIELMVS TERTIVS; reverse, same as before. Scotch have, on obverse, a sword and sceptre in saltire, with a crown above: reverse, thistle, crowned; another has a monogram.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea.Copper.Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Sinister bust profile, draped, hair thrown back, and tied at back of head with a ribband, which passes round the head.
Legend.ANNA DEI GRATIA.
Reverse.—Type.Four crowned shields in cross. Before the union these shields were, 1 England, 2 Scotland, 3 France, 4 Ireland. After the union they were altered to two shields of England and Scotland impaled, one of France, and one of Ireland. In the centre, the cross of St. George, in a star of the garter; between the shields, feathers or roses, or feathers and roses alternately; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values, crowned.
Legend.MAG BRI FR ET HIB REGand date.
Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMEN, and year of reign.
Rarity.All common. The smaller denominations scarcer than the others.
Gold.Same type and legend and edge. Reverse, sceptres between the shields.
Copper.As there is so much popular error concerning the farthings, it may be well to remark at length upon them, in order to clear away the absurd idea generally entertained, of there being only three in existence. Instead of this being the case, there are absolutely six distinct varieties. The first, which is the only one which was ever in general circulation, has, on the obverse, sinister bust profile, of queen, draped, hair thrown back, encircled with a string of pearls,ANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, figure of Britannia, olive branch in her right, and spear in her left hand,BRITANNIA, date, 1714, in exergue: this, although scarce, is by far the commonest of the whole: there is one with the same type, but broad rim, which is rare. Second, bust as before,ANNA REGINA; reverse, as last. Third, same bust,ANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, figure of Britannia, right leg bare;BRITANNIA, 1713, round. Fourth, obverse as before; reverse, Britannia, as last, under an arch;BRITANNIAin exergue, 1713. Fifth, bust as before, with band instead of pearls, within an inner circle (the busts on the others are on the field); reverse, figure of Britannia standing, helmeted, in the right hand the olive branch, and in her left the spear, within inner circle;BELLO ET PACE; date 1715, in exergue. Sixth,bust as one,ANNA AVGVSTA; reverse, same figure as last, standing in a car, drawn by two horses; in her right hand she holds the olive branch, in her left the reins and a spear;PAX MISSA PER ORBEM; in exergue, 1713. The prices depend upon the state of preservation of the coins, but, forFINEones, the following are about the values: 1, from six shillings to fourteen shillings; 2 and 3, from fifteen shillings to thirty shillings; 3, 4, and 6, from two to three pounds: 5, the rarest, from five to ten, or twelve pounds. There is a small medal, or counter, which is very frequently mistaken by the generality of persons for one of her farthings. It has on the obverse the bust, withANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, the four shields in cross, sometimes plain, and sometimes with roses between the shields,MAG BR FRA ET HIB REG1711; frequentlyRIGinstead ofREG. Some of these are of beautiful workmanship, and others very rude: they are far from being scarce; they were not struck as current coins. Halfpenny, bust,ANNA D G MAG BR FR ET HIB REG; reverse, sitting figure of Britannia, leaning on a shield, in her left hand a spear, in her right a rose and thistle emanating from the same branch; the whole beneath a crown.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea, Quarter-guinea.Copper.Halfpenny, Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Dexter laureated bust profile, in armour and draped, hair long and curled.
Legend.GEORGIVS D. G. M. BR. FR. ET. HIB. REX. F. D.
Reverse.—Type.Four crowned shields in cross. 1, England and Scotland impaled; 2, France; 3, Ireland; 4, Brunswick, and Lunenberg with Hanoverian escutcheon. Between the shields, on some, are a rose and thistle or feathers alternately; on others, S. S. C. (South Sea Company, silver), etc., indicative of the kind of silver of which they are minted; in the centre is the star and cross of St. George. Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values crowned.
Legend.BRVN. ET. L. DVX. S. R. I. A. TH. ET. EL., reading on from the obverse; thus, in full, “Georgius, Dei gratia, Magnæ Britanniæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, Brunsvicensis et Lunenbergensis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Thesaurarius et Princeps Elector” (or Elector only), and date.
Edge.DECVS ET TVTAMEN, and year of reign.
Gold.Same general type and legend as the silver.
Copper.Halfpence and Farthings. Obverse, dexter bust profile, draped, laureated,GEORGIVS REX. Reverse, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIA, date in exergue. The Farthing has a broad rim. Obverse, Irish Halfpence, bust as before, undraped,GEORGIVS DEI GRATIA REX; reverse, figure of Hibernia, with harp,HIBERNIA; date in same line.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea.Copper.Halfpenny, Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Sinister laureated bust profile, in armour, hair long and curled; under the head of some isLIMA.
Legend.GEORGIVS II DEI GRATIA.
Reverse.—Type.Four crowned shields in cross as on those of George I. In the centre of some is the motto,HONI SOIT, etc., on the garter round the cross, as George I. On some, plain between the shields; on others, a rose and Welsh feathers alternately, four roses or four feathers, to denote the silver from which they are minted. Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values, crowned.
Legend.M. B. F. ET. H. REX. F. D. B. ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T. ET. E., as explained under George I., and date. Penny,MAG. BRI. FR. ET. HIB. REX., and date.
Gold.Bust, undraped, laureated; reverse, royal arms in an ornamented shield, crowned.
Copper.Halfpence and Farthings. Bust as before, laureated and in armour,GEORGIVS II REX.; reverse, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIA, date in exergue. Irish Halfpence and Farthings, same bust, undraped; reverse, Irish harp, crowned,HIBERNIA, and date.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Guinea (21s.), Half-guinea (10s.6d.), Third-of-guinea or Seven-shilling-piece (7s.), Quarter-of-guinea (5s.3d.), Sovereign (20s.), Half-sovereign (10s.).Copper.Twopence, Penny, Halfpenny, Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Early issues: dexter bust profile of king, in armour, laureated, hair long; on his later coinage, bust undraped, laureated, hair short.
Legend.Early:GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA.Late:GEOR.(orGEORGIVS)III. D. G. BRITT.(orBRITANNIARVM)REX. F. D.(orFID. DEF.), etc. Later coinage has the date beneath the head.
Reverse.—Type.Early coinage: Four crowned or uncrowned shields in cross, as on coins of George I. and II.; the crowns in those instances where they do not surmount the shields, being placed in the angles between them. Later coinage: Crown, St. George and the Dragon within the mottoed garter, Half-crown, crowned shield of royal arms, within the garter, on which is the motto,HONI SOIT, etc.; quarterly, 1 and 4, England, 2, Scotland, 3, Ireland, Brunswick, etc., on an escutcheon surmounted by the electorate crown; the shield crowned; on another, round the garter, is the collar and badge of the order. Shillings, royal shield encircled by the garter, no legend; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values,eitherIIII. III. II. I., or in figures; one mintage, called wire-money, has the value in writing figures, all the lines of the same strength.
Legend.Early:M. B. F. ET. H. REX. F. D. B. ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T. ET. E.and date. Late:BRITANNIARVM REX FID DEF or FIDEI DEFENSOR.
During great scarcity of silver money in 1797 Spanish dollars and half-dollars were countermarked with a small punch of the king’s head and put into circulation as current coin of the value of 4s.9d.This stamp having been counterfeited to a considerable extent, a different one was adopted in 1804, but it in turn being much counterfeited, the whole dollar was re-stamped with a fresh octagonal device, the king’s head, etc., on the obverse, and on the reverse a figure of Britannia within an oval, crowned with a mural crown, and having the wordsBANK OF ENGLAND FIVE SHILLINGS DOLLAR, 1804. Bank of England tokens, value Six-shillings, Three-shillings, and other amounts, were also issued. Of these, and the Irish and Madras and other issues, I must forego particulars.
Gold.Obverse, bust laureated; reverse, Guinea, and Half-guinea, royal arms in a “spade ace” shield, crowned; Sovereign, George and Dragon within the garter; Half-sovereign, royal shield; Seven-shillings, a crown.
Copper.Early coinage: Halfpennies and Farthings, bust laureated and in armour,GEORGIVS III REX.; reverse, figure of Britannia,BRITANNIAand date; Irish, bust undraped; reverse, Irish harp crowned. 1797 and 1799, Twopence and Penny, with raised broad rim, on which is the legend, indented, bust profile, laureated, hair long, draped,GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA REX; Farthing, date under head; reverse, Britannia, bareheaded, in the right hand an olive branch, in the left a trident; seated on a rock, shield under her left hand,BRITANNIA, in the distance a ship (the water cut up to the curve of the coin), date under figure. Halfpence and Farthings, same figure of Britannia, but without the broad rim; halfpenny,BRITANNIA, date under figure; Farthing,BRITANNIA, under figure, 1FARTHING. In 1806-7, Pence, Halfpence, and Farthings, bust laureated and draped, hair short,GEORGIVS III. D. G. REX.and date. Britannia as before, water in a line across,BRITANNIA. Irish, harp, crowned,HIBERNIA, and date. A large variety of copper coins for the East India Company, Isle of Man, Prince of Wales Island, Sierra Leone, Barbadoes, Ceylon, etc., were struck, which need not be particularized.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-sovereign, Double-sovereign, Sovereign, Half-sovereign.Copper.Penny, Halfpenny, Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Sinister large bust profile, laureated, undraped. In 1826 the bust differs, the neck and head are much narrower in proportion, and it is not laureated. These latter coins are the productionsof Mr. Wyon, from the bust by Chantrey; the former ones are Pistrucci’s.
Legend.On the former,GEORGIVS IIII D. G. BRITANNIAR. F. D. Latter,GEORGIVS IV DEI GRATIA.
Reverse.—Type.Crown, St. George on horseback, undraped, helmeted, loose vest flying behind, in his right hand a dagger, his left holding the reins; under the horse, a dragon, a broken lance lying beside, no legend, date in exergue, edge,DECUS, etc. This coin is of most beautiful workmanship. Half-crown, early, royal arms; on some in plain square shield, crowned, encircled by the garter, with motto,HONI, etc., or ornamented shield, crowned, a rose beneath, and a thistle on one side, and on the other a shamrock, no legend; date on the former, withANNO.; later, royal shield, beautifully mantled.
Early, Shilling and Sixpence as the Half-crowns; later, royal crown and crest, a lion passant-guardant, crowned; beneath is the rose, thistle and shamrock. This is commonly known as the “lion shilling.”
Legend.Later,BRITANNIARVM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR.
Gold.Five-pound-piece, Double-sovereign, Sovereign, and Half-sovereign, bust as before; reverse, George and dragon; or royal shield.
Copper.Pennies, Halfpennies, and Farthings; early, bust profile, laureated, draped or undraped; Pence and Halfpence,GEORGIVS IV DG REX.; Farthings,GEORGIVS IIII DEI GRATIA; Pence and Halfpence; Irish, harp, crowned,HIBERNIA.and date; Farthing, Britannia seated on a rock, facing the right, helmeted, in her left hand the trident, in her right, which rests on the shield, an olive branch, lion at her feet, no water in distance, date in exergue; later, Pence, Halfpence, and Farthings, Britannia seated helmeted, left hand the trident, right resting on shield, no olive branch, nor lion, beneath the figure, the rose, thistle, and shamrock,BRITANNIAR REX FID. DEF. A Half-farthing for Ceylon, and a one third of a Farthing, for Malta, were struck in 1827-8, and are rare.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat or Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny, Three-halfpence.Gold.Double-sovereign, Sovereign, Half-sovereign.Copper.Penny, Halfpenny, Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Dexter bust profile, undraped, hair short.
Legend.GVLIELMVS IIII D. G. BRITANNIAR. REX F. D.
Reverse.—Type.Half-crown, ermine robe surmounted by the crown, tied at the corners with cord and tassels, on the robe are the royal arms in a plain square shield, beneath which is the collar and badge of the Order of the Garter; dated with the wordANNO.; Shilling and Sixpence, within a wreath formed by branches of olive and oak is the value,ONE SHILLING.—SIXPENCE.in two lines, a crown above, beneath the wreath the date; Fourpence, figure ofBritannia,FOUR PENCE, date in exergue. Maundy money, value, crowned, within a wreath of oak branches.
Gold.All the same bust as on the silver. Five-pound-piece, a pattern piece only; Double-sovereign, with arms, with mantle, garter, and crown; Sovereign, Half-sovereign, bust as before; reverse, royal arms in ornamental shield.
Copper.Pence, Halfpence, and Farthings, bust as before, date under the head,GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA; reverse, Britannia, as last coinage of George IV.; beneath the figure, rose, thistle, and shamrock,BRITANNIAR REX. FID. DEF. Several colonial and other coins were also struck in silver and copper.
Denominations.—Silver.Crown, Half-crown, Florin or Two-shilling piece, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat or Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny.Gold.Five-pound-piece, Double-sovereign or Two-pound-piece, Sovereign, Half-sovereign.Copper.Penny, Halfpenny, Farthing, Half-farthing.Bronze.Penny, Halfpenny, and Farthing.
Obverse.—Type.Crown and Half-crown. Sinister bust profile of the queen, undraped, round the head two plain bands, hair parted on the forehead, carried over the top of the ear, and all gathered together at the back of the head. The Half-crown has the fore hair plaited immediately before it joins the back hair. None of these have been issued for home currency since 1851. Florin. Sinister bust profile of the queen, crowned with an open arched crown, elegantly draped over the shoulders. Shilling, Sixpence, etc., bust same as Half-crown.
Legend.Crown and Half-crown,VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. Date under the head. Florin, first issue,VICTORIA REGINA, 1849; later issue,Victoria: d: g: britt: reg: f: d:and date asmdccclxviii. Shilling and sixpence,VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR REG. F. D. Fourpence and Maundy money,VICTORIA D. G. BRITANNIAR. REGINA F. D.
Reverse.—Type.Crown and Half-crown, royal arms quarterly, 1 and 4, England, 2, Scotland, 3, Ireland, shield plain, crowned, within a wreath formed of two olive branches tied together at the bottom by a ribband; beneath the shield, the rose, thistle, and shamrock. Florin, first issue, in a tressure of eight arches, whose cusps have trefoil terminations, within the inner circle, four crowned shields arranged as a cross, first and third England, second Scotland, fourth Ireland. In the centre a rose; the crowns extending through the legend to the outside edge of the coin. In the four angles are, respectively, two roses, a thistle and a shamrock. Later issues, similar to the other, with a trefoiled quatrefoil instead of rose in the centre. Shilling and Sixpence; value in two lines, within a wreath formed of a branch of olive and an oak branch tied together with a ribband, above the value the royal crown, beneath the wreath the date. Fourpence, figure of Britannia seated, helmeted, in her left hand the trident, her right resting on the shield, datein exergue. Maundy money, value, crowned, within a wreath of oak branches and date.
Legend.Crown and Half-crown,BRITANNIARVM REGINA FID. DEF. Florin, first issue,ONE FLORIN ONE TENTH OF A POUND; later issues,One florin one tenth of a pound. Shilling and Sixpence, the wordsONE SHILLING, andSIXPENCE, within the wreath of laurel and oak, beneath which is the date. Fourpence,FOUR PENCE. Threepence, figure 3 crowned.
The most beautiful of our modern coins is a Crown-piece struck in 1847, from dies engraved by Wyon. It is in somewhat low relief, and bears on the obverse an exquisite profile portrait of the queen, to the left, filling up the entire diameter of the coin. Her Majesty wears an open four-arched crown; the hair, being plaited, is brought down below the ear, and fastened at the back of the head; shoulders and bosom draped with delicate and elaborately ornamented lace, pearls, and jewels, the portion of the robe visible being diapered with roses, thistles, and shamrocks in lozenges.Legend.Victoria dei gratia britanniar. reg: f: d. Reverse: within the inner circle four shields (two England, one Scotland, one Ireland), arranged as a cross, within a tressure of eight arches; each shield crowned, the crowns extending through the legend and to extremity of the coin. In the centre the star of the Order of the Garter, and in the angles between the shields, which are diapered, a rose twice repeated, a thistle, and a shamrock; the spandrils and the cusps trefoiled.Legend,tueatur unita deus anno dom. mdcccxlvii. Round the edgedecus· et· tutamen· anno· regni· undecim. This, usually known as the “gothic crown,” was not put in circulation.
Gold.Sovereign, and Half-sovereign; obverse, same bust as the silver,VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, and date; reverse, Sovereign, royal arms, as the Half-crown; later issues, St. George and the Dragon as on those of George IV., and date; Half-sovereign, royal shield as before, without the wreath, mantled, crowned,BRITANNIARVM REGINA FID. DEF.
Copper.Farthings; obverse, same as Sovereign; reverse, figure of Britannia, as before, with the rose, thistle, and shamrock beneath,BRITANNIAR REG. FID. DEF.; Half and Quarter-farthings have also been struck for the colonies to supersede the use of cowries.
Bronze.Obverse: beautifully laureated profile bust of the queen, hair tied behind, draped over the shoulders; the portrait filling up the diameter of the coin; legend,VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:Reverse: figure of Britannia, helmeted and draped, holding a trident in her left hand, and her right resting on a shield of the union; in the distance, on one side, the Eddystone Lighthouse, on the other a ship in full sail.Legend:ONE PENNY, date in exergue, 1860,et seq. A large number of pattern pieces for coins of various values, and in all the metals, have at one time or other during this reign been prepared and struck, and are of the highest interest for the cabinets of collectors.