Desmond W. writes:Â Dear Sir, I have found a small bronze coin dated 1822, Inscription as follows, front : Brittania rex.fid..def. back : georgius IIII dei gratia Can you give a value and some background info. Thanks
It sounds like you have a Farthing of King George IV. The obverse shows a bust of George facing left. The reverse shows Britannia seated on a rock with a shield being held against the rock with her right hand and holding a trident in her left. The Latin Legends translate as “George IV By The Grace of G-d” the reverse continues: “King of Britain and Defender of the Faith”.
Farthings, most of the time, were the smallest denomination in the British monetary system (As the old insult goes, “He’s not worth a farthing”). It was a quarter of a penny. It took 12 pennies to make a shilling and twenty shillings to make a pound. There were plenty of other denominations, crowns (5 shillings), half crowns (2 1/2 shillings), florins ( 2 shillings) and many more. The government didn’t want anyone to get bored with their money. Oh yes, there were even 1/2 farthings under Geo IV and later and even 1/4 farthings beginning in 1839 with Queen Victoria.
You would think an item so old would be valuable. ‘Just goes to show, age don’t make value. Enjoy it! It still is historic.
