Robert A. writes: I own a house built 5 years before the Civil war. I was remodeling a wall when I found an old coin. One side has a ship with BERMUDA on top and 1793 on bottom, back side has georgivs III d g rex just wondering about history and value of this coin.
You have a 1793 Bermuda penny. Bermuda was settled in 1612 by British colonists from Virginia and became an official crown colony of Great Britain in 1684.
The first coins used on the island featured a common obverse showing a pig, the animal found in large quantities on the island. The coins were called “Hogge Money” by the inhabitants and were issued in 2, 3, 6 and 12 pence denominations.
The British issued copper pennies for Bermuda that were struck in Birmingham, England in 1793. This popular issue was restruck years later in various metals as a commemorative. The 1793 pennies show a bust of King George III facing right, the legend GEORGIVS III D.G. REX (George III by the Grace of G-d, King). The designer’s name DROZ.F is found incuse (inside the coin, instead of in relief) on King Georges’ shoulder. The reverse shows a sailing ship on water, above, the legend BERMUDA and below, in exergue (the dividing line), the date, 1793. There are several die varieties. About 72,000 of the regular issue were struck. Values are very much associated with the grade (condition) of the coin. Approximate value range: $15 – $350.
Proofs in bronzed copper exist that were struck in 1793. Only fifty pieces were struck. Approximate value: $300 -$500.
Copper proofs with the designers name removed from the dies were restruck at a later date: Approximate value: $90 -125.
A version restruck in silver from the 1793 dies exist but is rare:
Approximate value: $850 – $1,500.
Other restrikes exist in Aluminum, Gilt (gold over copper), Pewter, silver and gold. All of these varieties are rare.
