Catalog
See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration!
or register with email
Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!
1/4 Ackey - George III
| Issuer | Company of Merchants Trading to Africa |
|---|---|
| Year | 1796 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | KM#Tn2 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Central shield displays the arms of the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa, divided into two quarters: the upper quarter depicting an elephant passant upon a mount, and the lower quarter showing a three-masted sailing vessel at sea. The shield is surmounted by a crown supporting a standing elephant as crest, and is flanked on each side by floral sprays. The circular legend surrounding the design reads 'FREE TRADE TO AFRICA BY ACT OF PARLIMENT 1750', interrupted at intervals by pellet stops. A beaded rim borders the entire reverse. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
The Company of Merchants Trading to Africa was a loose association of British traders operating along the Gold Coast, granted a charter in 1750 after the Royal African Company collapsed. Unlike a true colonial authority, it had no shareholders and no dividend structure — members simply paid fees to maintain forts. The Ackey series was struck specifically to facilitate trade at those coastal forts, denominated in a unit of account tied to gold dust weights used by local Akan merchants rather than to sterling.
The quarter Ackey was produced by Matthew Boulton's Soho Mint in Birmingham under contract.