🇬🇧 1817 George III Silver Halfcrown
Large Bust – NGC MS63
Kingdom of Great Britain
George III (1760–1820)
Silver Halfcrown, 1817
Large Laureate Bust type
NGC Certified MS63
Obverse
Laureate “Large Bust” portrait of George III facing right. Legend:
GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA
Date 1817 below truncation.
Reverse
Crowned quartered shield of arms within the Garter, inscribed:
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
Outer legend:
BRITANNIARUM REX FID DEF
Grade – NGC MS63 (Choice Mint State)
A fully Mint State example with:
-
Strong original strike
-
Excellent detail in hair curls and laurel wreath
-
Full shield detail and sharp garter lettering
-
Attractive light cabinet toning with soft gold and champagne hues
-
Minimal contact marks for the grade
A very eye-appealing early milled George III silver issue.
Historical Context
This 1817 issue forms part of the great post-Napoleonic recoinage under George III. The Large Bust portrait was introduced in 1816 following the Great Recoinage, replacing earlier, smaller bust types. These coins marked the stabilisation of Britain’s silver currency after years of wartime strain.
High-grade survivors are far scarcer than circulated examples, as most entered the heavy commerce market.
