2016-04-27 Wed

The rare early George III 1797 Pattern Penny will be auctioned during the Boulton & Cooper antiques sale, which will take place at Milton Rooms today, 27th April. Matthew Boulton and James Watt set up their steam-powered coin press in Birmingham and minted the first bronzed cartwheel pennies in late 1790s. The coin is expected to fetch £150-£200 at the auction.

14 different designs were minted for the Royal Mint to choose the best before the re-coinage of copper pennies in 1797. A few more were produced for sale or presentation purposes.

The coin was on the east coast of Ireland before being transported to Malton by the present owner's father.