Coin, 1/4 Dollar, British West Indies, 1822
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1822 AD
1/4 Dollar, Issued by, British West Indies and Mauritius, 1822. Anchor Money series. Overdate last 2 of date over 1 Minted at Royal Mint, London Obverse: At centre, an ornate shield bearing the arms of King George IV; at centre, the crowned shield of Hanover containing the two lions passant guardant of Hannover, the lion rampant within a semy of hearts of Luneburg and the horse running to the left of Westphalia, quartered around, in I and IV, the three lions passant guardant of England, in II, the lion rampant within a tressure of Scotland, in III, the harp of Ireland; around, GEORGIUS IV D:G: BRITANNIARUM REX F:D:.
Reverse: At centre, anchor surmounted by crown; at both sides, IV; around; COLONIAR: BRITAN: MONET: 1822; the last 2 being over a 1. Edge: Milled.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
From 1817 the British government turned its attention to the perceived need for a colonial coinage based on the Spanish dollar. The colonial coinage, generally known as Anchor money from the anchor featured on the reverse, was developed. The coins were struck on the Spanish dollar silver, .892 fine. The first issue, dated 1820, was sent to Mauritius (in the denominations 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 dollar).
A second issue , dated 1822 was sent both to Mauritius (with the additional denomination 1/2 dollar) and the British West Indies (1/2 dollars not sent at that time). The system was not a success with both areas eventually moving to the sterling system. In 1826, when Mauritius went over to sterling, remaining anchor money 1/2 dollar pieces were transferred to the British West Indies, these all bore the date 1822.
Dies were prepared at the Royal Mint bearing the date 1821 but, with the exception of a single 1/2 dollar now in the British Museum collection, the dates on the dies were modified to read 1822 (on some coins the modification of the dies show up as an overdate, 1822 over 1821.
In addition to the unique 1821 piece, Pridmore also records 1820 denominations in the name of George III, it is uncertain what his source for these pieces was, the Royal Mint does not hold examples nor dies for such an issue.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Silver
- Dimensions
- Overall Dimensions: 25 mm (Outside Diameter), 6.603 g (Weight)
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Royal Mint, London; William Wyon RA - Royal Mint, London
- Place recorded
- British West Indies
- Series recorded
- Anchor Money
- Denomination recorded
- 1/4 Dollar
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Museums Victoria, Melbourne collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- mv-51532
- Museum object name
- Coin - 1/4 Dollar, British West Indies, 1822
- Holding institution
- Museums Victoria, Melbourne
- Museum object number
- NU 12005
- Published references
- KM#3 Pridmore, Fred., Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations, part 3 West Indies, p. 267-271 Remick, J. British Commonwealth Coins, p. 10 - 12
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.