King George III crowns and half-crowns are rare finds from the perspective of the Australian metal detectorist. Below I have compiled photos, mintage,
King George III (1760 – 1820) oversaw a great re-coinage in Britain starting in 1816. Tens of millions of new coins were minted with new weights and designs. The crown (five shillings) and half-crown (eighteen pence) had not been minted prior to 1816 in George III’s reign, although tokens with these values existed. Half-crowns began to be minted in 1816 and crowns in 1818, both were silver coins.
George III Half-Crowns
Beginning in 1816 these coins were minted with the ‘Bullshead’ portrait of King George on the obverse. During 1817 the Bullshead design was changed to a more standard portrait of the king. The reverse design was also changed at this time. The new 1817 design was to remain until King George IV changed it in the mid-1820s after George III’s death.
| Year | Mintage | Composition | Diameter | Weight |
| 1816 Bullshead | Unknown | 92.5% Silver | 32mm | 14.1g |
| 1817 Bullshead | 8,092,656 | 92.5% Silver | 32mm | 14.1g |
| 1817 New Portrait | Including Above | 92.5% Silver | 32mm | 14.1g |
| 1818 | 2,905,056 | 92.5% Silver | 32mm | 14.1g |
| 1819 | 4,790,016 | 92.5% Silver | 32mm | 14.1g |
| 1820 | 2,396,592 KG III and KG IV | 92.5% Silver | 32mm | 14.1g |
King George IV came to the throne on the death of George III in 1820. He issued his own half-crown in 1820 so there were 1820 half-crowns in circulation from both kings.
[geoip_detect2_show_if country=”UK”] [/geoip_detect2_show_if]
[geoip_detect2_show_if country=”AU”] [/geoip_detect2_show_if]
[geoip_detect2_hide_if country=”AU,UK”] [/geoip_detect2_hide_if]
George III Crowns
The only crowns struck during George III’s reign were from 1818 – 1820. Worth five shillings, they were minted of 92.5% silver. The reverse of the coin featured Benedetto Petrucci’s famous St George and the Dragon design.
This is the only design used on George III’s crown coins. King George III died in 1820 and although King George IV had his own half-crowns minted in 1820, his first crown was made in 1821
| Year | Mintage | Composition | Diameter | Weight |
| 1818 | 155,232 | 92.5% silver | 39mm | 28.28g |
| 1819 | 683,496 | 92.5% silver | 39mm | 28.28g |
| 1820 | 448,272 | 92.5% silver | 39mm | 28.28g |
.I was not able to find any evidence of these coins being found by an Aussie metal detectorist but there would be half-crowns out there given the number of them minted. Crowns would be a lot harder of course but you never know your luck. If you have found one of these coins and want your photo added to the blog just email me or leave a comment.
[geoip_detect2_show_if country=”UK”] [/geoip_detect2_show_if]
[geoip_detect2_show_if country=”AU”] [/geoip_detect2_show_if]
[geoip_detect2_hide_if country=”AU,UK”] [/geoip_detect2_hide_if]