1797 2d

[El Cobrador]

I'd not run across one of these until today (the shop actually had acquired a pair of them, the one pictured below being by far in the better condition of the two).

I find this issue rather amusing - tipping the scales at 57½ grams, its bulk seems rather at odds with its intended function as "small change"....

I understand that these have been subject to counterfeiting. Does anybody see anything that might be a cause for concern in that regard? Actual hue of the coin is a nice, dark red brown - these photos were taken in a manner so as to best show extant detail.

 

[mrbadexample]

It's good. Decent edges too, which is often a problem with these due to the weight - it only needs to be dropped once.

The large size is due to the coin being made from 2d worth of copper - 2oz.

Edited June 12, 2018 by mrbadexample

[Paddy]

Yes - looks OK to me. There are a lot of these around - I think because they were so unpopular at the time and were quickly ceased a lot of people put them away as souvenirs. I probably have a dozen of them here in various grades!

Edge knocks, as previously mentioned, are the usual fault. Because of their weight and soft metal, one drop on a hard surface gives them a big problem.

Nice coin - every British coin collection needs one.

[Peckris]

Not popular at the time due to size and weight. This is why so many have survived in GF - GVF, unlike the penny which is harder to find in decent nick.

[Peter]

I imagine many of these lumps destroyed many a pocket.

I once won £50 of £1 coins from an arcade in Dawlish and apart from looking rude with a bulge in my pocket ruined a good pair of shorts.