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Very Rare 1797 Ungraded Cartwheel Two Penny by Soho Mint, Handsworth, England
Very Rare 1797 Ungraded Cartwheel Two Penny by Soho Mint, Handsworth, England
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$440.00 AUD
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Here we have a very rare 1797 Cartwheel Two Penny Coin struck by the Soho Mint, Handsworth, England. Ungraded but good antique condition, this would be an excellent candidate to submit for grading.
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 two penny coin remains the largest regal coin to circulate in Britain, as well as among the earliest base metal regal pennies. 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. As these were found too heavy for everyday, their production and circulation was limited to 722 100 in 1797. After various wartime scarcities, these late 18th century two penny cartwheel coins are now scarce and highly collectible today.
Price marked at $440 AUD.
Measurements: 41mm diameter, 5mm thickness, 56.5g copper.
Obverse: Laureate and draped portrait of King George III right, legend GEORGIUS III · D:G · REX. around on raised rim.
Reverse: Seated figure of Britannia ruling the waves, facing left.
Very good antique condition, with wear as pictured and edge knocks as common with this particular coinage.
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 two penny coin remains the largest regal coin to circulate in Britain, as well as among the earliest base metal regal pennies. 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. As these were found too heavy for everyday, their production and circulation was limited to 722 100 in 1797. After various wartime scarcities, these late 18th century two penny cartwheel coins are now scarce and highly collectible today.
Price marked at $440 AUD.
Measurements: 41mm diameter, 5mm thickness, 56.5g copper.
Obverse: Laureate and draped portrait of King George III right, legend GEORGIUS III · D:G · REX. around on raised rim.
Reverse: Seated figure of Britannia ruling the waves, facing left.
Very good antique condition, with wear as pictured and edge knocks as common with this particular coinage.
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