Kingdom of Great Britain. George III (1760-1820). 1 Penny 1817 NGC MS62 (No Reserve Price)

1817 British King George III Maundy 1 Penny Silver Coin

Highlights:
1. The mintage of this 1817 Maundy 1 penny silver coin is ONLY 10,000 pieces, its status as the first year of the new design gives it prominent historical standing.
2. Graded NGC MS62 with minor contact marks on the surface, overall good luster and no major defects, suitable for mid-level collectors.
3. A small jewel in British numismatic history, blending history, art, and scarcity.


Coin Story:
This coin is one of the classic pieces in the British Maundy series in numismatic history.
Maundy coins originate from an ancient British royal tradition dating back to the 13th century, inspired by the biblical story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Every Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter), the monarch personally or through a representative distributes sets of coins (typically including 1 penny, 2 pence, 3 pence, and 4 pence) to a number of poor elderly people equal to the monarch's age. This is not only an act of charity but also symbolizes humility and service.

The 1817 1 penny silver coin belongs to the late George III series and was one of the first newly designed silver coins after the Great Recoinage of 1816-1817 in Britain, designed by the Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci. The obverse features George III's laureate bust with the inscription "GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA" (George III by the Grace of God); the reverse shows a crowned "1" surrounded by the inscription "BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:" (King of the Britains, Defender of the Faith). In that year, George III was 79 years old, so 79 sets were distributed to male elders and 79 to female elders, totaling 158 sets for the ceremony.

However, additional coins were minted for collectors and officials, marking this coin in numismatic history as a transition from circulating currency to purely ceremonial/collectible pieces, with significant transformative importance. It reflects the fusion of the British monarchy with Christian traditions, as well as the backdrop of early 19th-century British currency reform—addressing previous shortages of silver coins and the proliferation of counterfeits.

Overall, this 1817 George III Maundy 1 penny silver coin is a small jewel in British numismatic history, blending history, art, and scarcity.