George II Halfcrowns

Obverse of 1731 Halfcrown

Reverse of 1731 Halfcrown

Reverse of 1751 Halfcrown

Obverse of 1731 Halfcrown

First Head
Issued 1731 to 1741
Obverse:
Laureate and draped bust facing left, with a lion mask at the shoulder, and the legend GEORGIUS II DEI GRATIA.
Reverse
Four crowned cruciform shields with three lions or leopards and a rampant lion in the first, three fleurs de lys in the second, a harp in the third, and the Hanoverian arms in the fourth consisting of three sections, two lions passant, a lion rampant in a semée of hearts, and a horse courant (running), and in a central escutcheon, the crown of Charlemagne. The legend (inscription) reads M B F ET H REX F D B ET L D S R I A T ET E. For a translation of this, please see our British Coin Inscriptions page.

Second Head
Issued 1743 to 1751
Obverse:
As for the first type, but older, more mature laureate and draped bust facing left.
There is a slight change in the lettering in 1746, so that GEORGIUS reads GEORGIVS, the V and U being fairly interchangeable in Latin.
LIMA appears below the bust on some coins of 1745, and all 1746, as a result of silver captured by Admiral Anson in 1743 from an enemy treasure convoy sailing from Lima, in what was then the Spanish colony of Peru.
Reverse
As for the first head coinage.

Provenance Marks
We have already referred to provenance marks showing the source of the silver used for the coins. This is shown on the reverse, by the addition of symbols between the angles of the shields, these being:-

• Roses and Plumes
  In alternate angles, denoting silver from the "Company for Smelting Down Lead with Pit Coale and Sea Coale".
• Roses
  In all four angles, denoting silver from the West of England mines.
• Plain
  Denoting an unspecified source.

Edge
The edge of both types is inscribed in raised lettering:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI (Followed by the regnal year in Latin).

Price & Availability

Date	Description	Cat	Grade	Availability	Price £	Price $
1746 LIMA	Second Bust, GEORGIVS, LIMA, DECIMO NONO	3695A	good VF / almost EF	Yes	£375	$695

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