Owner Comments:
National Series: Princess of Wales 1795 halfpenny
REFERENCE: Middlesex D&H 979
DIAMETER: 28mm
WEIGHT:
COMPOSITION: copper
DIESINKER:
MANUFACTURER:
RARITY: RR (approx 10–30 known)
OBVERSE: three quarter bust to left: "PRINCESS OF WALES"
REVERCE: crest of the Prince of Wales above a large portcullis with draw chains: “HALF PENNY 1795”
EDGE: milled \\\\\
Caroline, the Princess of Wales, was a very controversial and tragic figure. George, the playboy Prince of Wales, agreed to marry her sight unseen so Parliament would settle his lavish lifestyle debts even thought he was already secretly (and illegally) married to a Catholic woman. After their wedding, and his debts were repaid, he rebuked Caroline as ugly, dirty and crude. The Prince then made several attempts to divorce her and failed, but he did manage to restrict her access to their only child (Princess Charlotte, born 9 months after the marriage). Years later Caroline was even turned away at the door of his coronation upon his command even though they were still legally married. Still, she was as popular with the people as the Prince was not, and though they never reconciled she never disavowing her claim as Queen. After their daughter died in childbirth she returned to her home in Brunswick (Germany) and is buried there.