Half-guinea (Fourth Head : George III)
Issuer
King George III
(Norfolk House, London, England, 1738 - 1820)
Date1778
Object NameHalf Guinea
Mediumgold
ClassificationsCoins
DimensionsOverall: Diameter: 21 mm
Approximately: Thickness: 0.9 mm
Weight: Weight: 4.2 gm
Approximately: Thickness: 0.9 mm
Weight: Weight: 4.2 gm
AcquisitionBequeathed in 1919 by Andrew Henderson.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS019298
Keywords
On the earlier guineas the head of George III shows a youthful portrait but in the 1770s this was changed to a more mature one. During the same period the reverse design changed from a decorated, almost square shield to a plainer, spade-shaped version.
In 1991 a half-guinea of the early portrait/decorated shield type in near-mint condition was unearthed in a garden in Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
