4 Pence - William IV 1836-1837

Weight

1.89 g

Diameter

16 mm

Thickness

NA

Material

Silver (.925)

Shape

Round

Edge Type

Reeded Note: plain varieties exist

Technique

Milled

Front design

Uncrowned portrait of King William IV right, legend around.

Back design

Seated figure of Britannia right, trident in left hand, shield in right hand, denomination around, date in exergue.

Year of Minting

1836-1837

King

William IV ( 1830-1837 )

Mint location

NA

Mint mark

NA

Orientation

Medal alignment ↑↑

Inscriptions

Obverse: GULIELMUS IIII D:G: BRITANNIAR REX F:D: Reverse: FOUR PENCE 1836

Context

The standard weight of this coin was 2/33 troy ounce or 29.1 grains. Since the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, production or fourpence pieces or groats was irregular at best. Towards the end of William IV's reign, they were reintroduced to general circulation. There are some reports stating that they were initially struck for use in British Guiana where they were equivalent to 1/4 guilder and others suggest that the groat returned to domestic circulation in 1836 but in either case they were the only silver coin to bear the figure of Britannia on the reverse. According to various sources, the fourpence or groat was given the nickname 'Joey' after Joseph Hume, MP for Weymouth, Dorset, who successfully campaigned for the reintroduction of the groat in 1836. It is said that the average handsome cab fare in London at the time was fourpence and if the passenger tendered a sixpence, the cabbies would often either keep the twopence as a gratuity or give 16 half farthings in return.

Rarity

Common

Coin type

Standard circulation

In circulation

No

Demonetized

Yes

Marketplace listings

0