George IV (IIII) Copper Half Crown - What is it?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Charitycoincollector, Feb 26, 2020.

  1. Morning all,

    I've received this George IV Coin dated 1820 and with the same weight, size and pattern as a half crown only glitch is its copper rather than silver. It has been tested to confirm that it is copper. Any idea if this is a fake or replica? or something else? Pictures below. Any insight is always appreciated.

    approx weight: 12.8g
    approx size: 3.2cm diameter

    IMG_8576.JPG IMG_8577.JPG
     
    Bradley Trotter likes this.
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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Interesting piece. Made into a button at one time, obviously.

    My thoughts? I do think it's contemporary, from the early 1800s. Was it a counterfeit that was once silver-plated? Hmm. That would be my first theory, but it seems you'd still be able to see at least some faint traces of the silvering if that were the case.

    I really don't know, but it's intriguing, despite the damage. Maybe it was a dud coin that was found to be counterfeit and then fashioned into a crude button rather than throwing it away? Large flat buttons were the fashion in that era.

    Or could it have been some sort of die trial? I find myself doubting that, but it's an interesting possibility, perhaps.
     
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  4. Bradley Trotter

    Bradley Trotter Well-Known Member

    That is quite an interesting piece @Charitycoincollector. Most of the British counterfeit coins I've seen of the era are those of George III and a lot more cruder detail. Nonetheless, your coin is an imitation of an 1820 Great Britain Halfcrown which in terms of the pre-decimal money system of Great Britain 1/8 Pound sterling.
    https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces13178.html
     
  5. Thanks for the replies. I thought as much but never seen a counterfeit of this era which such detail. Shame it was damaged turning it into a button.
     
  6. Bradley Trotter

    Bradley Trotter Well-Known Member

    An alternative theory that I’d like to suggest is that the holes were made once the authenticity of the coin became suspect. The possibility @lordmarcovan suggested that it being a die trial could be plausible since the holes could've been made to invalidate the coin similar to the way the U.S. Mint waffles error and trial coins today.
     
  7. Dafydd

    Dafydd Supporter! Supporter

    I would tend to agree with Bradley, probably holed to be used as a button or badge because the holes are crude and no precision engineering shop such as the Royal Mint would do that as they would have proper drills or punches. The imperative to deface the coin is that the death penalty for forging coins was still a law in Great Britain until 1832. The last person to be hanged for coin forgery was Thomas Maynard on 31st December 1829. It would be difficult to prove possession to defraud with those holes in it.
     
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  8. Bardolph

    Bardolph Active Member

    It is not an exact copy of the 1820 tyoe if George IV half crown. The most obvious difference occurs on the obverse. On the 2/6d coin the end of the right hand ribbon is exactly between the E & X of REX while on CC C's piece the end of the right hand ribbon almost touches the X.
    Another difference is that on the coin the bottom three laurel leaves on the king's head are tied with a ribbon which has only one bow or loop while on CCC's there appears to be a second loop on the left hand side.
    In my opinion this is not a coin nor a counterfeit. George IV came to the throne in 1820, so this could either be a coronation medal, or else a pattern produced to show the proposed design for the new coinage
     
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