Throughout the month of October, ill be looking back at historical moments from the past. From conflicts to coronations, sporting moments to royal memories, and famous firsts and lasts, with my love of all things shiny and precious, ill be trying to tie these events in with coins that have been created to commemorate these moments.
On 25 October 1760, Great Britain and Ireland received a new king when George III ascended to the throne after the death of his grandfather, George II.
In his accession speech the 22-year-old addressed his Hanoverian connections declaring to Parliament: ‘Born and educated in this country, I glory in the name Britain’.
Following the financial turmoil that had accompanied the Napoleonic Wars, King George III decided upon a reform of the gold coinage. It was decided that the guinea would be replaced by a coin valued at exactly one pound – the guinea was valued at one pound and a shilling which made accounting somewhat cumbersome. The new coin would be called the ‘sovereign’ and it was to be accompanied by a half sovereign.
The sovereign was a coin that had been struck many centuries earlier by King Henry VII and the half sovereign had been introduced by his son and heir King Henry VIII. They were both ceased after the Restoration of King Charles II.
SOURCE: ROYAL MINT CHARDSHATTONS
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