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  • British Copper Coinage: Introduction

    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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