| ← George III | William IV → |
Great Britain: George IV
1821 to 1830
Denomination: AR Shilling 1825
Obverse: Laureate bust left. "GEORGIUS IIII D:G: BRITANNIAR:REX F : D : Reverse: Crowned Garnished shield in garter. "HONI • SOIT • QUI MAL • Y • PENSE • • •", "ANNO 1825" under. Dia/Wgt: 23.6 mm/ 5.6 gm Reference: SCBC 3811 |
Denomination: AR Sixpence 1829
Obverse: Bare head left. "GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA" "1829" under bust. Reverse: Lion on crown on rose. "BRITANNIARUM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR" Dia/Wgt: 19.4 mm/ 2.8 gm Reference: SCBC 3815 |
Denomination: AE Halfpenny, 1826
Obverse: Laureate and draped bust left "GEORGIVS IIII DEI GRATIA *" Reverse: Britannia seated right "BRITANNIAR: REX FID: DEF:" Date in exergue. Dia/Wgt: 28.0 mm/ 9.8 gm Reference: SCBC 3822 |
Denomination: AE Farthing (quarter penny), 1823
Obverse: Laureate and draped bust left "GEORGIVS IIII DEI GRATIA *" Reverse: Britannia seated right "BRITANNIAR: REX FID: DEF:" Date in exergue. Dia/Wgt: 21.7 mm/ 4.8 gm Reference: SCBC 3822 |
Denomination: AE Farthing (2nd Issue), 1829
Obverse: Bust left. "GEORGIVS IV DEI GRATIA/ 1829" Reverse: Britannia seated right. "BRITANNIAR: REX FID. DEF" Dia/Wgt: 21.8 mm/ 4.6 gm Reference: SCBC 3825 |
Denomination: AE Third of a Farthing, 1827
Obverse: Bust left. "GEORGIVS IV DEI GRATIA/ 1827" Reverse: Britannia seated right. "BRITANNIAR: REX FID. DEF" Dia/Wgt: 16.0 mm/ 1.5 gm Reference: SCBC 3827 |
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GEORGE IV (1762-1830), King of Great Britain and Ireland (House of Hanover), (29th January 1820 to 26th June 1830), and King of Hanover (1820-1830).
George was born in London on August 12, 1762, the eldest son of King George III. As Prince of Wales, he became notorious for his profligacy and extravagance. Despite his father's strongly anti-Catholic views, he secretly married a Roman Catholic, Mrs Maria Anne Fitzherbert, in 1785; less than two years later, to obtain money for his debts, he allowed Parliament to declare the marriage illegal, which in fact it was by the terms of acts governing royal marriages and succession. In 1795, again to liquidate his debts, he married his cousin, Caroline of Brunswick, but they became estranged after the birth of their daughter, Princess Charlotte, in 1796. His misconduct alienated the British people; when he tried to divorce Caroline, charging her with adultery, she was so enthusiastically supported by the London crowds that her trial had to be abandoned. His cleverness and gracious manners, however, earned him the name of "first gentleman of Europe". George became Prince Regent in 1811, when his father became mentally unable to discharge his duties, and succeeded to the throne in 1820. The outstanding event of his reign was the passage of the Catholic Emancipation Act, which the king opposed. George IV died at Windsor on June 26, 1830, and was succeeded by his brother William IV. |