1789 Prince Regent Coin?

[Guest nz_treasure]

Hello,

I have a coin that I can't find any information about.

It is 25.5mm in diameter and dated 1789.

1789 PRINCE REGENT - HE HOLDS IT FOR THE KING

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Hussulo 6]

Hello,

I have a coin that I can't find any information about.

It is 25.5mm in diameter and dated 1789.

1789 PRINCE REGENT - HE HOLDS IT FOR THE KING

Any help would be much appreciated.

Try this link

[Peckris 579]

From the date, it looks like a typical late 18th Century copper halfpenny token. These were issued by many companies and organisations, and there are some that feature the Prince of Wales, the future George IV.

The interesting thing about this piece is that George did not become Prince Regent until 1811. However, there was a "Regency Crisis" in 1788 but George III recovered before the Regency could be enacted. So it rather looks as though this token (or commemorative piece?) was struck in preparation for an event that didn't materialise.

The need for all this (as you probably know already) is that there was a massive shortage of copper coins from the mid-18th Century until Matthew Boulton created the machinery to strike the "cartwheels" of 1797. Tokens plugged this gap.

[Jake 0]

Here ya go Peckris

[Peckris 579]

Here ya go Peckris

Interesting colour - almost pewter. But otherwise it has the classic appearance of a late 18th century token, probably a halfpenny (if it's a bit smaller than an old bronze penny then it's definitely a halfpenny). Worth keeping, out of interest.