Back

Great Britain - 1804

King George III: Laudatory Medal

Obverse:

Female standing supporting a crown above an altar inscribed HEALTH / TO THE / KING

Legend:

PRO BONO PUBLICO (For the public good).

Size:

24 mm.

Reverse:

An altar upon a tripod dividing 2^DWT — 20^GS laurel branch and globe below PUBLIC HAPPINESS

Exergue:

STERLING / 1804

AR 24 by ?
AR RRR.
BM. Hr. 4592 & 93.


This medal weighs 70 grains which is roughly 2 dwts. 20 grains although what the significance is of this is not apparent. It may, perhaps, have been an unofficial proposal for a revival of the silver coinage with a piece of this weight; perhaps an Irish shilling. It has been previously listed as an Irish token and appears as such in Coins and Tokens of Ireland, Seaby, 1970; also R. Dalton, The silver token coingae mainly issued between 1811 and 1812, where it is cataloged under Dublin 8.
from British Historical Medals, Volume 1, p. 136