Post Your Britannia Coin

[Ten-Speed]

Here is a 1797 Two-pence coin from Great Britain. It weighs in at a whopping two ounces and I read that it is the heaviest coin (for use in daily trade)  ever minted. It was not very well accepted--it was just too heavy; eight of these weighed a pound.

In design it is very much like an ancient Roman coin--the King faces to the right and the figure of Britannia stands in an open-arm position.

Post your Britannia coins and any stories or other information about them.

Edited June 23 by Ten-Speed

[John Conduitt]

1 hour ago, Ten-Speed said:

I read that it is the heaviest coin (for use in daily trade)  ever minted.

It was in Britain. There may be other contenders (e.g. in Russia) but it comes down to what 'circulating' means.

Here's the original Britannia. She's 'mourning' so not quite so optimistic.

Hadrian As, 119

Rome. Bronze, 10.00g. Laureate bust right; IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG. Britannia seated facing, holding sceptre, large shield to right; PONT MAX T R POT COS III; S C; BRITANNIA in exergue (RIC II.3, 241).

I believe this is the first re-appearance of Britannia since ancient times. The emperor look had already come back - Oliver Cromwell was laureate on his portrait coins (and quite a few Saxon coins have a blundered version).

Charles II Farthing, 1675

Tower. Copper, 21.5mm, 5.90g. Laureate and cuirassed bust of Charles II left; CAROLVS·A· CAROLO. Britannia seated left, holding spear in left hand, olive branch in raised right hand, shield with Union flag resting at left, date in exergue; BRITAN NIA· (S 3394).

Edited June 23 by John Conduitt

[Ten-Speed]

I like the Charles II farthing.

[maridvnvm]

Here is a version of a Cartwheel 2d. They have taken two 2d coins and hollowed them both out to create a box to hide more valuable items inside....

Edited June 24 by maridvnvm

[Ten-Speed]

Really interesting, this would definitely be a coin to use for such a purpose.

[DonnaML]

Here are a few of my coins depicting Britannia, none of them ancient:

England, AE Farthing, Charles II 1675. Obv. Laureate bust left, CAROLVS • A • – CAROLO /  Rev. Britannia seated left holding spray (flowering branch) in upraised right hand, with left hand holding transverse spear and resting on shield, BRITAN – NIA •; in exergue, 1675. 5.69 g.  S. 3394. Purchased June 17, 1999 from CNG [Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., Lancaster, PA/London, England, historicalcoins.com], ex Web Auction # 115832746. 

George III AE Cartwheel Twopence 1797, Soho Mint. Obv. Laureate and draped bust right, GEORGIUS III D : G • REX / Rev. Britannia seated left on rock in sea, holding spray (flowering branch) in upraised right hand, with left hand holding transverse trident and resting on shield; ship on horizon to left; BRITANNIA above, date 1797 below (Legends incuse on raised rim). 41 mm., 56.1 g. S. 3776. Purchased from Karl Stephens Inc., March 1986.

George III AE Penny 1806, S. 3780 (variety with no incuse hair curl by tie knot), by Conrad Heinrich Küchler, Soho Mint. Obv. Short-haired, laureate, and draped bust right, GEORGIUS III • D: G • REX., date 1806 below / Rev. Seated figure of Britannia facing left, with olive branch in raised right hand, left hand holding trident and resting on shield bearing Union flag, sea behind with ship to left, legend BRITANNIA above; the word SOHO engraved below lower right of shield, at 45 degrees. 34 mm., 19.27 g. Purchased from Noonans Mayfair (formerly Dix Noonan Webb), London, UK, Auction 271, 4 Apr. 2023, Lot 415.

George III AE Halfpenny 1806, S. 3781, by Conrad Heinrich Küchler, Soho Mint. Obv. Short-haired, laureate, and draped bust right, GEORGIUS III • D : G • REX., date 1806 below / Rev. Seated figure of Britannia facing left, with olive branch in raised right hand, left hand holding trident and resting on shield bearing Union flag, sea behind with ship to left, legend BRITANNIA above; the word SOHO engraved below lower right of shield, at 45 degrees. 29 mm., 9.52 g. Purchased from Paul J. Bosco, New York, NY, 1999. 

A modern silver proof Britannia bullion coin:

Elizabeth II 1998 AR Proof Britannia bullion coin (1 oz. Silver, .958 fineness, face value 2 Pounds), in green case of issue. 40 mm., 32.45 g. Obv. Crowned bust right (4th portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley), ELIZABETH II D G – REG FID DEF around, denomination 2 POUNDS below / Rev. Britannia, helmeted, standing facing upon a rock in the sea, head left, her right hand grasping a trident and her left hand resting on a shield and holding an olive branch, her hair and gown streaming left in wind; ONE OUNCE FINE SILVER - BRITANNIA 1998; NATHAN beneath rocks (for Philip Nathan, designer of reverse). S. 4500 (ill.). Mintage 2,168. [First year of design; second year of 1 oz. silver bullion type with 2-pound face value.]

I also have three gold Britannia bullion coins:

Elizabeth II AV Britannia 25 pounds 1987 proof S.4291 (Rev. Britannia standing w/trident & shield)

Elizabeth II AV Britannia 10 pounds 1998 proof in case S.4480 (Rev. same)

Elizabeth II AV Britannia 10 pounds 2007 proof in case S. 4484 (Rev. Britannia seated w/trident & shield; lion at her feet) 

Unfortunately, I've never gotten around to taking individual photos of them; they're the 3rd, 5th, and 9th coins in this group photo:

Although I do have a photo showing a close-up detail of the 8th and 9th coins together, the 2007 Britannia on the right and a 2005 proof half-sovereign on the left:

[rasiel]

Sucker for old copper still showing mint luster :- )

Rasiel

[Octavius]

Sestertius of Septimius Severus commemorating his victory in Britain  - VICTORIAE BRITANNICAE.

[maridvnvm]

Great Britain - Farthing

Obv:- GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA, Laureate, draped bust left
Rev:- BRITTANIAR: REX FID: DEF: (note D over D in DEF), Seated Britannia facing right, holding a shield and trident, lion at feet, date below Britannia
Date: 1822 in exe.

Mintage : 5,924,000
Reference:- Spink 3822 (Generic reference.). Peck 1411 (D over D)

[Ten-Speed]

Nice, sharply-defined coin.

[Ten-Speed]

11 hours ago, Octavius said:

Sestertius of Septimius Severus commemorating his victory in Britain  - VICTORIAE BRITANNICAE.

Beautiful toning.

[Ten-Speed]

14 hours ago, DonnaML said:

Here are a few of my coins depicting Britannia, none of them ancient:

England, AE Farthing, Charles II 1675. Obv. Laureate bust left, CAROLVS • A • – CAROLO /  Rev. Britannia seated left holding spray (flowering branch) in upraised right hand, with left hand holding transverse spear and resting on shield, BRITAN – NIA •; in exergue, 1675. 5.69 g.  S. 3394. Purchased June 17, 1999 from CNG [Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., Lancaster, PA/London, England, historicalcoins.com], ex Web Auction # 115832746. 

George III AE Cartwheel Twopence 1797, Soho Mint. Obv. Laureate and draped bust right, GEORGIUS III D : G • REX / Rev. Britannia seated left on rock in sea, holding spray (flowering branch) in upraised right hand, with left hand holding transverse trident and resting on shield; ship on horizon to left; BRITANNIA above, date 1797 below (Legends incuse on raised rim). 41 mm., 56.1 g. S. 3776. Purchased from Karl Stephens Inc., March 1986.

George III AE Penny 1806, S. 3780 (variety with no incuse hair curl by tie knot), by Conrad Heinrich Küchler, Soho Mint. Obv. Short-haired, laureate, and draped bust right, GEORGIUS III • D: G • REX., date 1806 below / Rev. Seated figure of Britannia facing left, with olive branch in raised right hand, left hand holding trident and resting on shield bearing Union flag, sea behind with ship to left, legend BRITANNIA above; the word SOHO engraved below lower right of shield, at 45 degrees. 34 mm., 19.27 g. Purchased from Noonans Mayfair (formerly Dix Noonan Webb), London, UK, Auction 271, 4 Apr. 2023, Lot 415.

George III AE Halfpenny 1806, S. 3781, by Conrad Heinrich Küchler, Soho Mint. Obv. Short-haired, laureate, and draped bust right, GEORGIUS III • D : G • REX., date 1806 below / Rev. Seated figure of Britannia facing left, with olive branch in raised right hand, left hand holding trident and resting on shield bearing Union flag, sea behind with ship to left, legend BRITANNIA above; the word SOHO engraved below lower right of shield, at 45 degrees. 29 mm., 9.52 g. Purchased from Paul J. Bosco, New York, NY, 1999. 

A modern silver proof Britannia bullion coin:

Elizabeth II 1998 AR Proof Britannia bullion coin (1 oz. Silver, .958 fineness, face value 2 Pounds), in green case of issue. 40 mm., 32.45 g. Obv. Crowned bust right (4th portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley), ELIZABETH II D G – REG FID DEF around, denomination 2 POUNDS below / Rev. Britannia, helmeted, standing facing upon a rock in the sea, head left, her right hand grasping a trident and her left hand resting on a shield and holding an olive branch, her hair and gown streaming left in wind; ONE OUNCE FINE SILVER - BRITANNIA 1998; NATHAN beneath rocks (for Philip Nathan, designer of reverse). S. 4500 (ill.). Mintage 2,168. [First year of design; second year of 1 oz. silver bullion type with 2-pound face value.]

I also have three gold Britannia bullion coins:

Elizabeth II AV Britannia 25 pounds 1987 proof S.4291 (Rev. Britannia standing w/trident & shield)

Elizabeth II AV Britannia 10 pounds 1998 proof in case S.4480 (Rev. same)

Elizabeth II AV Britannia 10 pounds 2007 proof in case S. 4484 (Rev. Britannia seated w/trident & shield; lion at her feet) 

Unfortunately, I've never gotten around to taking individual photos of them; they're the 3rd, 5th, and 9th coins in this group photo:

Although I do have a photo showing a close-up detail of the 8th and 9th coins together, the 2007 Britannia on the right and a 2005 proof half-sovereign on the left:

Gorgeous! Thanks for the details on the 1797 coin; now I have a better understanding of my coin, which was purchased from Calgary Coin Gallery.

Edited June 25 by Ten-Speed

[Qcumbor]

Here are some :

Q

[robinjojo]

Here's a standing version:

British trade dollar, Bombay (Mumbai), 1900.

KM T5 

Edited June 25 by robinjojo

[DonnaML]

Some miscellaneous pennies and halfpennies.

Victoria, AE Halfpenny, 1891, S. 3956

Victoria halfpenny and penny (both 1901)

Halfpennies from George V (1913, 1921, 1923, 1931); pennies from George V (1928) and George VI (1943) 

Some of my earlier farthings in a tray:

[Edessa]

Hanover. George I, AD 1714-1727. CU Halfpenny (28.5mm, 10.08g, 5h). Second issue. Tower (London) mint. Dated AD 1721/0. Obv: Laureate and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Britannia seated left on globe, holding branch and scepter; shield at side, plain edge. Ref: Peck 796; SCBC 3660. Very Fine, dark brown surfaces, obverse die flaws. From the Dr. William E. Triest Collection. Ex Roy Bonjour Collection (Stack’s, 2 November 2010), Lot 6537; Roy Harte Collection (Bowers & Ruddy Galleries, 16 November 1977), Lot 677. Ex CNG eAuction 429, Lot 525.

[John Conduitt]

On 6/25/2024 at 2:16 PM, maridvnvm said:

Great Britain - Farthing

Obv:- GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA, Laureate, draped bust left
Rev:- BRITTANIAR: REX FID: DEF: (note D over D in DEF), Seated Britannia facing right, holding a shield and trident, lion at feet, date below Britannia
Date: 1822 in exe.

Mintage : 5,924,000
Reference:- Spink 3822 (Generic reference.). Peck 1411 (D over D)

I don't know why, but Britannia switched around under George IV. Perhaps he thought the reverse had to face the other way just as the obverse did. But after him, she didn't change back, while the monarchs kept switching.

The first silver coin to feature Britannia, still facing left as under Hadrian:

George III Bank of England Dollar, 1804

Soho Mint, Birmingham. Silver, 41mm, 27g. Head 1, C.H.K. on truncation; GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX. Britannia seated with shield, in oval garter; FIVE SHILLINGS DOLLAR; BANK OF ENGLAND 1804; K in relief below shield (S 3823). With a test cut. Made by Matthew Boulton, overstriking Spanish 8 reales because of a shortage of silver. Produced from 1804 to 1811 but all dated 1804.

George switches left, Britannia switches right:

George IV Farthing, 1821

London. Bronze, 22mm, 4.67g. Laureate head 1 left; GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA. Britannia seated with shield right, holding trident and spray; date in exergue below; BRITANNIAR REX FID DEF (S 3822).

The monarchs switch, Britannia doesn't:

Edward VII Halfpenny, 1905

Bronze, 25mm, 5.5g. Head 1; EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP. Britannia seated with shield holding trident, facing right; HALF PENNY, 1905 (S 3991-1905).

[Rosa Potatos]

On 6/23/2024 at 5:55 PM, Ten-Speed said:

Here is a 1797 Two-pence coin from Great Britain. It weighs in at a whopping two ounces and I read that it is the heaviest coin (for use in daily trade)  ever minted. It was not very well accepted--it was just too heavy; eight of these weighed a pound.

In design it is very much like an ancient Roman coin--the King faces to the right and the figure of Britannia stands in an open-arm position.

Post your Britannia coins and any stories or other information about them.

I think this coin was 2 oz because that was the price of copper(One penny an ounce) and they were trying to link it to weight like silver and gold. I think the price of copper went up and people weighed them in for scrap! A failed experiment and a wonderful piece of history...

[Ten-Speed]

Thank you for this very pertinent and helpful information. I always enjoy learning more about the coins for which I am custodian.

[HipShot Photography]

From my collection, my favorite Britannia is the cartwheel.  I like its chunky feel. This one has some wonderful colouring. 

[Ten-Speed]

23 hours ago, HipShot Photography said:

From my collection, my favorite Britannia is the cartwheel.  I like its chunky feel. This one has some wonderful colouring. 

Yes, it's almost heavy enough to use as a paperweight!