Rare 1799 Cartwheel Penny by Soho Mint, Handsworth, England
Rare 1799 Cartwheel Penny by Soho Mint, Handsworth, England
Regular price
$110.00 AUD
Regular price
Sale price
$110.00 AUD
Unit price
/
per
Here we have a rare 1799 Cartwheel Penny struck by the Soho Mint, Handsworth, England.
The first official British coins of those denominations to be made of copper, they were also the first official British coins to be struck by steam rather than by muscle power.
The first base metal regal pennies to circulate in Britain, these pieces were produced by Matthew Boulton using a steam powered press at the Soho mint in Birmingham beginning in 1797. From 1770 until the end of the 18th century the practice of melting down the official copper coins and making lightweight forgeries had become so widespread that it prompted industrialist Matthew Boulton to offer a potential solution. He proposed that each coin should actually be made to contain its value in copper (one ounce avoirdupois), that the quality should be improved by using a retaining collar during striking (to give a perfectly round coin) and by designing the coins with thick raised borders to prevent them wearing so easily. This type was struck in copper by Boulton for several years after 1797 with no change in date, along with some later strikes in a variety of metals.
Price marked at $110 AUD.
Measurements: 36mm diameter, 3mm thickness, 28.35g copper.
No significant damage, but wear as pictured.
The first official British coins of those denominations to be made of copper, they were also the first official British coins to be struck by steam rather than by muscle power.
The first base metal regal pennies to circulate in Britain, these pieces were produced by Matthew Boulton using a steam powered press at the Soho mint in Birmingham beginning in 1797. From 1770 until the end of the 18th century the practice of melting down the official copper coins and making lightweight forgeries had become so widespread that it prompted industrialist Matthew Boulton to offer a potential solution. He proposed that each coin should actually be made to contain its value in copper (one ounce avoirdupois), that the quality should be improved by using a retaining collar during striking (to give a perfectly round coin) and by designing the coins with thick raised borders to prevent them wearing so easily. This type was struck in copper by Boulton for several years after 1797 with no change in date, along with some later strikes in a variety of metals.
Price marked at $110 AUD.
Measurements: 36mm diameter, 3mm thickness, 28.35g copper.
No significant damage, but wear as pictured.