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1/4 Dollar - George IV
| Issuer | British West Indies |
|---|---|
| Year | 1820-1822 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1/4 Dollar |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The central device features the Royal Arms of Great Britain displayed on an ornate quartered shield, surmounted by the imperial crown and supported by a lion and a unicorn in the heraldic tradition. The shield bears the arms of England (three passant guardant lions), Scotland (lion rampant), Ireland (harp), and Hanover in the inescutcheon. The circular legend surrounding the shield reads GEORGIVS IV D:G: BRITANNIARUM REX F:D:, separated by stops, running along the toothed border. The design is rendered in high relief with fine engraving detail characteristic of William Wyon's work at the Royal Mint. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
The British West Indies fractional silver issues of the early 1820s were struck specifically to address a chronic shortage of small change across the Caribbean colonies, where Spanish colonial reales had long filled the gap but were growing scarce as Spanish American independence movements disrupted traditional trade flows. This quarter dollar denomination was designed to integrate with both the British sterling system and the dollar-based commerce that dominated the region's ports.
The Proof strikes recorded under Prid more references account for the bulk of surviving high-grade examples — circulated pieces are considerably harder to locate, suggesting limited production numbers actually reached the islands.