question about coin-what is it

[Guest graham eatwell]

I have a coin that was given to me after my dad died like to know what it is Im sure its some kind if not used for legal tender . It weighs 1.8 ozs is 1 5/8 dia and 1/4 inch thick is is a gold color and very heavy Im sure its not gold because it was very tarnished. on one side it saysgeorgiu III. D.REX. there is also a face of what looks to be a roman . the other side has around the edge BRITANNIA 1797 with a figure of a seated woman with a trident and shield sitting down with her hand out strecghed with a branch in it. My dad was in the Britiish merchant marines during they war and after before we came to the us in 59. if any one can tell me what this is I would like to know since dads been dead 10yrs. I hope it was important to him. thank you

[Gary D]

From your description it sounds like either a george III cart-wheel penny or 1/2 penny. I don't know their diameter so can't be precise. A photo would be very nice. DONT CLEAN IT.

[Peter]

From the dia it sounds like a Cartwheel 2d.

I'm afraid they are very common and if tarnished it will be worth very little.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/George-III-Cartwheel...1QQcmdZViewItem

Is it like this one ?

[Peter]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1797-Cartwheel-Twope...1QQcmdZViewItem

Apologies....the previous coin was a cartwheel 1d.