2 Pence - George III Thin numerals incl. Maundy (1792)
"Wire money"
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Year | 1792 |
| Denomination | 2 Pence |
| Mint | Royal Mint · Llantrisant |
| Series | Maundy Money |
| Circulation | Non-circulating |
| Demonetised | Yes |
| Composition | Silver (.925) (925/1000 fine) |
| Weight | 1.000g · 0.0297 t oz |
| Diameter | 14.0mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Grade scale | UK (EF/UNC) |
Older laureate and draped bust of King George III right, legend around.
Central crowned denomination above date, legend around.
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Daily limit reachedAbout the 1792 2 Pence - George III Thin numerals – incl. Maundy
The 1792 2 Pence - George III Thin numerals – incl. Maundy is a collector 2 pence coin in the Maundy Money series, struck in 92.5% silver. It weighs 1g and measures 14mm across. Reverse design: Central crowned denomination above date, legend around.
It is no longer legal tender, so its value is to collectors only.
Common questions
How much is the 1792 2 Pence - George III Thin numerals – incl. Maundy worth?
No verified sale of the 1792 2 Pence - George III Thin numerals – incl. Maundy has been logged on MyCoinage yet. Its silver content is worth about £1.19 at today's spot price, which puts a floor under its value.
What is 'wire money'?
The name given to George III's 1792 Maundy coins, whose numerals are drawn in thin lines like wire. Aberdeen's museum record of the twopence describes a small crown above a thin 'wire money' figure 2, with the date below.
How many 1792 twopences were made?
No figure is published. CoinVarieties, citing the standard catalogues, gives the mintage as unknown. It describes the type as struck in 1792 only and, though not rare, difficult to find in nice condition.
Why does the 1792 twopence look different from earlier ones?
Both sides changed. Wikipedia records that a new, older bust of the King came in on the small silver in 1792, and that the 1792 reverse was completely redesigned, with a much smaller crown and numeral. The design was used for one year only.
Is the 1792 Maundy twopence legal tender?
Wikipedia states that at decimalisation all Maundy pieces were deemed by law to be denominated in new pence. In practice a 1792 twopence is a collector's coin and is never spent.
How do I identify the 1792 2 Pence - George III Thin numerals – incl. Maundy?
Check the weight 1g and diameter 14mm and the metal (92.5% silver) against the specification table on this page. The reverse design is described above.
History and design
In 1792 the small silver coins of George III were given a new look for a single year. Wikipedia's history of the penny records that a new bust of the King was introduced in 1792 and that the reverse used that year was completely redesigned, with a much smaller numeral under a smaller crown. Tony Clayton lists 1792 as the only date for this twopence, and CoinVarieties describes the type as struck in 1792 only.
By this time the silver penny, twopence, threepence and fourpence were made chiefly for the Royal Maundy, the Maundy Thursday gift of silver from the sovereign. Clayton's Maundy listing shows a full four-coin set for 1792. No mintage figure is published for the twopence or the set.
The obverse shows an older laureate and draped bust of George III facing right. The reverse is what sets the year apart: Aberdeen's museum record describes a small crown above a thin 'wire money' figure 2, with the date below, rather than the crown dividing the date as on the earlier type. Collectors call the 1792 Maundy coins wire money because of these thin numerals.
The Royal Mint Museum's example weighs 1.08 g and Aberdeen's 0.95 g, about 14 mm across. The edge is plain.
Collecting notes
CoinVarieties notes that the 1792 twopence, though not rare, is difficult to find in nice condition. It is a one-year design, so it is wanted both as a type and as a Maundy date. Look for the thin wire numeral and the small crown above it, and check for cleaning, which shows readily on small silver. The following type is the 1795 normal-numeral twopence.
Sources
The history, design, varieties and collecting notes on this page are drawn from these sources. Prices come from recorded sales, not from them.
- Maundy Twopence (George III), 1792 (ABDMS017220), Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums, via Museum Data Service (read 12 Oct 2026)
- George III Maundy twopence, 1792 (RMM 1056), The Royal Mint Museum, via Museum Data Service (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Great Britain 1792 2 pence, CoinVarieties (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Values of Coins of the UK: Two Pence, Tony Clayton, Coins of the UK (read 12 Oct 2026)
- History of the British penny (1714 to 1901), Wikipedia (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Lewis Pingo, Wikipedia (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Royal Maundy, Wikipedia (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Values of Maundy Sets, Tony Clayton, Coins of the UK (read 12 Oct 2026)
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