![George III, Sixpence, 1817. MS64 [ECM-268] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ECM-268-1.jpg)
Description
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, George III of the House of Hanover, King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820 AD, Silver Sixpence, 1817, Royal mint, London. Obverse: Laureate head of King George III facing to the right, date below, legend surrounds, “GEOR: III D:G: BRITT: REX F:D:”. Reverse: Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, as borne by King George III, set within ornate mantle and surmounted by Saint Edward’s Crown; mint master’s initials “WWP” (William Wellesley Pole) and engraver’s initials “W” (Thomas Wyon) incuse on shield’s mantle, buckled garter surrounds bearing the motif “HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE”. S-3791. Certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 64. An utterly enchanting example toned in a spectacular manner.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Geōrgius tertius, Deī Grātiā, Britanniārum Rēx, Fideī Dēfēnsor”, with an English translation of “George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of the British People, Defender of the Faith”. The reverse legend on the shield garter is the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter and is stated in full in Middle French / Anglo-Norman as “honi soit qui mal y pense”, with an English meaning of “shame on anyone who thinks evil of it”.
