1824 Half Crown: coat of arms on reverse

[colliewalker1]

I have just bought an 1824 George IV half crown and have been looking at the coat of arms on the reverse side.The coat of arms is divided into quarters - on two opposite quarters are three lions in each. In another quarter is a harp and opposite this is a single lion.

This coat of arms seems to be on all issues of half crowns, throughout the 19th century and into the 20th century.

Can anyone tell me what these symbols represent - I wondered if the three lions represented England, the single lion Scotland and the harp Ireland - or Wales? In this case either Ireland or Wales are unrepresented!

Incidentally I think I'll concentrate on collecting half crowns for each monarch's reign.

[Master Jmd]

England - Lions

Scotland - Thistle (i think?)

Ireland - Harp

Wales - (do not know)

[Chris Perkins]

The three lions, as far as I'm aware are actually leopards. I think heraldically they've always been leopards, and they just wouldn't fit in the football song: 'Three leopards on the shirt...'

The single lion is Scotland, and the Harp Ireland. For some reason Wales is not represented (unless it has a Welsh plant in the border). The smaller coat of arms in the middle is that of the Duchy of Brunswick and Luneburg (later renamed Hanover).

[Sylvester]

JMD is confused he's thinking of the plants.

England is three lions (formerly 2), Scotland is one lion rampant, Ireland is a Harp.

France is 3 fleur de lis, Wales would be a dragon if it was on.

[Chris Perkins]

Aren't they leopards?

[Emperor Oli]

Silver hallmarks call the marks "Lion rampant/guardant" (I think) for English silver, so the lions/leopards are probably lions.

JMD, the national Welsh plant is the leek.

[Chris Perkins]

JMD, the national Welsh plant is the leek.

Or Daffodil

[Emperor Oli]

Correct - the Queen wanted emblems of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales on her Coronation dress. She chose Rose, Thistle, Shamrock but uh-oh, a leek doesn't really fit in with those pretty flowers, so they chose the daffodil instead.

[Master Jmd]

JMD is confused he's thinking of the plants.

Yes, i was not sure what it was like so i went by the decimal 20p's

[Geoff T]

England - Lions

Scotland - Thistle (i think?)

Ireland - Harp

Wales - (do not know)

The reason why Wales is not represented is that Wales is not a kingdom but a principality. The incorporation of Ireland into the UK in 1801 created the UK as it existed until the partition of the country in 1922, but Wales, although part of the UK, was never a kingdom in its own right and therefore is not represented in the royal arms. The dragon is a modern invention, like the Welsh flag.

The horse disappeared after the separation of Hanover from the British throne in 1837.

Thanks, Chris, for pointing out that the "lions" are really leopards. Many people make that mistake.

Geoff

[Sylvester]

I read ages ago that the were leopards, but hey they still look more like lions and if everyone else calls them lions who am i to argue...

Plus leopards would really ruin the fooball song!