Summary

1/2 Penny, Issued by Isle of Man, 1786
Minted by Royal Mint, London

Obverse Description

Laureate bust of the King facing right; below, 1786; around, GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA.

Reverse Description

At centre, triskelis: three legs joined at the upper part of the thigh, flexed, garnished and spurred; around, QVOCVNQVE IECERIS STABIT (wherever you throw it, it will stand)

Edge Description

Milled \\\

Significance

The Isle of Man was granted to the Stanley family in perpetuity by the English King Henry IV. It was inherited by the Duke of Atholl in 1736 but became part of the United Kingdom on 21 June1765 when it was purchased back from the Atholl family by the Act of Revestment for 70,000 pounds and an annuity of 2,000 pounds. This sum paid for all Athol interests and privilages but excluded their landed property. It brought the Island under UK customs service control specifically to prevent the Island being used for the smuggling trade. The last of the Atholl interests in the Island passed to the crown in 1829 for a further payment of 416,000 pounds.

This was the first issue of coins for the island under British rule, it was struck at the Royal Mint, London from dies prepared by Lewis Pingo. Both penny and 1/2 penny denominations were issued, dies for a farthing were also prepared but were not used.

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