1797 Great Britain Cartwheel Penny & 1797 Cartwheel Penny Van Riebeeck Replica

1797 Great Britain Cartwheel Penny

The 1797 Cartwheel Penny is one of the most iconic British copper coins, struck during the reign of King George III. Nicknamed for its unusually large size and thick flan, the Cartwheel was the first official copper coin struck on steam-powered presses at Matthew Boultons Soho Mint in Birmingham.

Its distinctive weight and size were designed to discourage counterfeiting, and each coin contains a full one ounce of copper. The obverse features the laureate bust of King George III, while the reverse depicts Britannia seated with trident and shield.

• Denomination: Penny

• Year: 1797

• Composition: 100% Copper

• Weight: ~28.3g (1 oz)

• Diameter: 36mm

• Finish: Business Strike

This historic issue is a cornerstone of British numismatics, prized for both its sheer size and its role in the Industrial Revolutions minting history.

1797 Cartwheel Penny Van Riebeeck Replica

The Van Riebeeck replicas of the 1797 Cartwheel Penny were privately struck in South Africa during the mid-20th century as commemoratives. These pieces are modeled after the original George III Cartwheel design but are not official British issues. They often carry minor design distinctions or additional markings to denote them as replicas.

While they hold no intrinsic numismatic value as original coins, they are collected locally as curiosities and conversation pieces particularly when linked to the Van Riebeeck commemorative movement.

• Type: Replica Token

• Design: Based on 1797 Cartwheel Penny (George III / Britannia)

• Origin: South Africa, Van Riebeeck commemorative era

• Composition: Base Metal (varies; usually copper or bronze alloy)

Interesting historically, but value lies mainly in novelty and collector interest rather than bullion or official coinage.