AE Half Penny

Struck: 1799
Mint: Soho
Size: 31mm
Weight: 12.59g
Die Axis: 180°
Grade: gVF
Ref: KM 647

Obv: GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX. Laureate, draped bust right.
Rev: BRITANNIA. Britannia seated left, holding branch and trident in left, shield at side, ship with five incuse gun ports, SOHO on brick, 1799 below.
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George III was born on 4 June 1738 and was King of Great Britain from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. He is probably most notable as reigning during England's defeat and loss of the colonies during the American Revolution and also for it's victory in the Napoleonic wars culminating with Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. His legacy has been both demonized and praised. George III was very popular at the start of his reign but by the mid 1770's had lost the loyalty of many of the American colonists. He had also been mocked for an apparent interest in mundane matters rather than politics. For example he had a keen interest in agriculture which earned him the nick-name "Farmer George".

In the later part of his life, George III suffered from total blindness, increasing deafness and recurrent, and eventually permanent, mental illness. Medical practitioners were baffled by this at the time, although it has since been suggested that he suffered from the blood disease porphyria. After a final relapse in 1810, a regency was established, and George III's eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, ruled as Prince Regent. By 1818 his condition was such that he was incapable of understanding that his wife had died. Over Christmas 1819, he spoke nonsense for 58 hours, and for the last few weeks of his life was unable to walk. He died at Windsor Castle at 8:38 pm on 29 January 1820.