Virginia Coins
Base
About This Coin
Copper halfpennies and a rare silver shilling authorized by the Virginia colonial government and struck at the Tower Mint in London in 1773. The obverse features a bust of King George III, while the reverse displays the Virginia colonial coat of arms with the motto EN DAT VIRGINIA QUARTAM ("Behold, Virginia Gives the Fourth"). The halfpennies exist with and without a period after GEORGIVS, providing collectors with two distinct varieties. A small number of "penny" denominations were also struck as patterns. The silver shilling dated 1774/3 is an extreme rarity with only a few known specimens. These were among the last colonial coins issued before the American Revolution.
