Description

The coin was produced in 1827 exclusively for use in Malta, but it is considered to be part of the British coinage as at that time Malta was considered more as a part of Britain than a colony. The farthing coin was already in circulation in Malta, as a 3 grani coin, and the third farthing was introduced as 1 grano. A proclamation issued in Malta on 3 November 1827 legalised the new coins, referring to them as British Grains. The cost of living in Malta was lower than in Britain, and it was not considered appropriate to introduce them in Britain. There was no indication of its value.

George III (George William Frederick; 1738–1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death.

His life and reign, which were longer than any other British monarch before him, were marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdoms, much of the rest of Europe, and places farther afield in Africa, the Americas and Asia. Early in his reign, Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War, becoming the dominant European power in North America and India. However, many of Britain's American colonies were soon lost in the American Revolutionary War. Further wars against revolutionary and Napoleonic France from 1793 concluded in the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

In the later part of his life, George III had recurrent, and eventually permanent, mental illness. Although it has since been suggested that he had the blood disease porphyria, the cause of his illness remains unknown. After a final relapse in 1810, a regency was established, and George III's eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, ruled as Prince Regent.

Obverse

Laureate head of George IV facing left surrounded by legend "George IV, by the Grace of God" with the date below.

Engraver: William Wyon

GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA
· 1827 ·

Reverse

Britannia helmeted seated facing right holding a trident with her right hand resting on the top of an oval shield bearing the three crosses of the Union flag; surrounded by legend "Britains King, Defender of the Faith" (BRITANNIARUM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR); in exergue, a rose, thistle and shamrock combined.

Although the archetypical image of Britannia seated with a shield first appeared on Roman bronze coins of the 1st century AD struck under Hadrian, Britannia's first appearance on British coinage was on the farthing in 1672, though earlier pattern versions had appeared in 1665, followed by the halfpenny later the same year.

BRITANNIAR: REX FID: DEF:

Edge
Characteristics
Material Copper
Weight 1.57 g
Diameter 16 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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1st portrait

Copper, 1.57 g, ⌀ 16 mm