A pair of British copper coins from the 1797 Soho Mint issue, popularly known as “Cartwheels” due to their broad, raised rims and considerable weight. The larger coin is a twopence and the smaller is a penny. The obverse of each depicts a laureate bust of George III facing right, with the legend GEORGIUS III D G REX impressed into the raised rim in incuse lettering. The reverse features a seated figure of Britannia facing left, holding a trident, with the legend BRITANNIA and the date 1797 similarly incised into the rim. These coins were notable for being the first officially produced copper coins of their denominations and for being minted at Matthew Boulton’s steam-powered Soho Mint in Birmingham. Both coins show significant surface oxidation and heavy wear to the high points of the design and legends.
Diameter of penny: 36 mm
Diameter of twopence: 41 mm
Weight of penny: 28.3 g
Weight of twopence: 56.7 g.
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