Weight Ranges of Regal British Coppers
The following two tables give the weight and diameter ranges for each issue of circulating British regal halfpence and farthings, from the first issue of Charles II to the 1775 issue of George III. All information is taken from Peck's extensive catalogue of the specemins in the British Museum. In his introduction Peck states (p. xiii) the maximum and minimum weight ranges: "are only approximate as the inclusion of further specimens might well have increased the maxima or decreased the minima by several grains,..."
HALFPENCE
| Halfpenny type | Weight range in grains | Average weight | Diameter in mm |
| Charles II 1672-1679 |
154.0 - 187.4 | 169.5 | 28.5 - 31 |
| James II 1685-1687 tin |
161.8 - 180.0 | 170.9 | 28.5 - 30 |
| William and Mary 1689 tin, type 1 |
164.5 - 168.6 | 167.2 | 30 |
| 1689 tin, type 2 | 169.2 | 30 | |
| 1690-1692 tin second issue |
161.0 - 181.1 | 169.7 | 28 - 30 |
| 1694 copper | 139.6 - 182.0 | 161.9 | 28 - 31.5 |
| William III, copper 1695-1698, type 1 |
136.5 - 180.7 | 160.4 | 28 - 29.5 |
| 1698-1699, type 2 | 147.3 - 181.1 | 157.3 | 28 - 29 |
| 1699-1701, type 3 | 138.8 - 192.7 | 156.9 | 28 - 31 |
| George I 1717-1718 type 1 |
144.0 - 160.0 | 150.0 | 25 - 26.5 |
| 1719-1724 type 2 | 144.0 - 160.0 | 150.0 | 27.5 - 30 |
| George II 1729-1739 |
145.0 - 163.9 | 153.7 | 28.5 - 29.5 |
| 1740-1754 | 132.6 - 160.3 | 153.3 | 28.5 - 29.5 |
| George III 1770-1775 |
140.9 - 167.9 | 153.4 | 28.5 - 30 |
FARTHINGS
| Farthing type | Weight range in grains | Average weight | Diameter in mm |
| Charles II 1672-1679 copper |
76.4 - 102.5 | 89.1 | 22 - 23 |
| 1684-1685 tin | 83.5 - 93.5 | 86.8 | 23 - 24 |
| James II 1684-1687 tin |
79.5 - 89.7 | 85.8 | 23 - 24 |
| William and Mary 1689 tin, type 1 |
79.5 - 88.0 | 83.5 | 23 - 24.5 |
| 1689 tin, type 2 | 88.4 | 24 | |
| 1690-1692 tin second issue |
80.5 - 90.6 | 86.2 | 22 - 23.5 |
| 1694 copper | 82.2 - 101.8 | (only 3 exist) | 24.5 |
| William III, copper 1695-1698, type 1 |
67.3 - 98.8 | 79.3 | 22 - 23 |
| 1698-1699, type 2 | 74.6 - 91.3 | 81.8 | 22 - 23 |
| George I 1717-1718 type 1 |
69.0 - 82.1 | 75.0 | 20 - 21 |
| 1719-1724 type 2 | 69.0 - 82.1 | 75.0 | 22 - 23 |
| George II 1729-1739 |
69.6 - 84.0 | 75.9 | 23 - 24 |
| 1740-1754 | 69.8 - 82.1 | 76.6 | 23 - 24 |
| George III 1771-1775 |
66.9 - 82.4 | 76.1 | 23 - 24.5 |
For a table listing the average weight for each issue of Regal Irish coppers, from the first issue of Charles II to the 1782 issue of George III - Click here.
Reference
See: C. Wilson Peck, English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins in the British Museum 1558 - 1958 second edition, London: British Museum, 1964, pp. 140-233
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| Section Contents | British Copper Coins |
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