'Cartwheel' Twopence (George III)
Designer
C H Kuechler
IssuerIssued by
King George III
(Norfolk House, London, England, 1738 - 1820)
Date1797
Object NameTwopence
Mediumcopper
ClassificationsCoins
Dimensions40 x 5mm, 56.8gm
AcquisitionBequeathed in 1947 by Innes W T Kilgour.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS011874
Keywords
A massive coin containing two ounces (56 grammes) of copper - hence the nickname 'cartwheel'; the bust of George III appears on the obverse while Britannia occupies the reverse. All `Cartwheel' coins bear the date 1797.
These very distinctive coins were produced at the private mint in Soho, Birmingham, run by Matthew Boulton and James Watt. Since the Soho Mint was equipped with the latest steam-powered coining machinery it was awarded the contract to strike the coins in preference to the Royal Mint.
