George III penny?

[Guest Cara]

I have found a copper coin in my back garden while gardening. It has Georgavs III Rex and a right facing bust on one face and on the reverse a left facing seated Britannia with "Britan - nia" split to the left and right of the figure. At the bottom of this face there is the date 1773. Does anyone have any information about this coin??

[Chris Perkins 223]

Dear Cara,

Most commonly found from that year are copper Half pennies (about 30mm) but farthings look the same and are around 22mm.

Whichever it is, chances are it didn't do to well under the ground for 300 years and it's value will depend entirely on condition, from nothing and just a curiosity piece to over GBP100.00 for a near mint example.

Also, that coin type was probably one of the most widely forged coins ever and there is a good chance your coin is not the real thing at all and a contemporary forgery. Which doesn't have to be bad because it will be of the same age and possibly even more interesting, and even more valuable to a collector (a few quid, i'm not talking huge amounts!)

If it is a forged coin of the realm having it is probably still illegal and punishable by hanging

If you register you can upload a scan of it for us all to see?

CP www.predecimal.com