Summary
4 Pence (groat), Issued by British Guiana & West Indies, Great Britain, 1888
Minted by Royal Mint, London
Obverse Description
Crowned and veiled bust of the Queen facing left; around, VICTORIA D:G: BRITANNIAR: REGINA F:D:
Reverse Description
Britannia seated facing right holding a trident and resting right hand on a shield; around, FOUR PENCE; in exergue, 1888
Edge Description
Milled
Significance
In 1840 the value of the British Guiana guilder was fixed at 1 shilling and 4 pence (16 pence) and as a result the 4 pence piece was equated to the important 1/4 guilder denomination, known in British Guiana as a 'bit'. The 4 pence or groat therefore became the principle coin circulating in the colony although 3 pence, 2 pence and 1 1/2 pence silver coins were also provided. Although the standard design of the Imperial groat, the 1888 coins were struck only for British Guiana and the West Indies. They featured the Jubilee head of the Queen, not used for circulation coinage on this denomination elsewhere.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1888 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
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Denomination
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Material
Silver
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
16 mm (Outside Diameter), 1.89 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
KM Great Britain # not listed but see p.122 Pridmore 31 Hocking 4187 - 4188
[Book] Pridmore, Fred. 1965. The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations, Part 3, West Indies.
[Book] Bruce, Colin R. 2006. Standard Catalogue of World Coins 1801 - 1900.
[Book] Hocking, William J. 1906. Catalogue of the Coins, Tokens, Medals, Dies and Seals in the Museum of the Royal Mint.
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Keywords
