This copper halfpenny dates to the reign of George IV, who ruled Britain from 1820 until 1830. It is part of the early 19th-century milled coinage, produced by steam-powered presses at the Royal Mint, which gave coins a consistent shape, weight and edge to help prevent forgery.
The obverse of the coin carried the laureate bust of George IV, while the reverse showed Britannia seated with shield and trident — a long-standing emblem of national strength and maritime power. The halfpenny was a widely used low denomination, circulating in markets, taverns and shops throughout the country, and would have been a familiar piece in the daily lives of ordinary people.
George IV’s reign followed the long rule of his father, George III, and was marked by a mixture of extravagance and reform. He was known for his patronage of the arts and architecture, leaving behind landmarks such as Brighton Pavilion, but also for political unrest at home.
Though worn from centuries in the soil, this halfpenny provides a small but tangible connection to early 19th-century Surrey, when industrial progress and social change were reshaping the nation.