British King "Bullet Book," George II, 1727 - 1760

BillJones

1759 George II Guinea

1743 George II Shilling

• Like his father, George II was most interested in the military. He loved to pore over his soldiers’ regimental records every week by the hour.

• George was the last British king to lead his troops into battle at Dettingen in June, 1743. In the battle, which was during the War of Austrian Succession, British forces, in alliance with those of Hanover and Hesse defeated the French.

• Like his father, George had a terrible relationship with his oldest son, Frederick. For reasons unknown George regarded Frederick as a dim-witted son from the time of his birth. This colored their relationship from the beginning

• Frederick was a spendthrift in his youth and ran up gambling debts that his father refused to honor. Nevertheless he was a cultured man who took interests in sports, literature and the theater. None of these things interested George II which broaden the gap between them.

• Frederick, who was the heir apparent to the crown, died of an aneurism at age 54 before he could become king. Some believe that he would have been an effective ruler.

• George II’s wife and queen, Caroline, was an intelligent and engaging lady. Some called her “the power behind the throne.” Her charm and social gracing made up for George’s gruff manner. Her ability to charm men in powerful positions enhanced the king’s reign.

• The House of Stuart made one last attempt to regain the British throne in 1745. With the support of the French and some Scotts and English people, Charles Edward Stuart, “the young pretender,” led an army as far south as Derby. A British army under George’s favorite son, William, to stop the invasion. The British defeated Scotts at Culloden in April 1736. William following his victory with a brutal crackdown on the Jacobites which earned him the pejorative nickname, “Butcher Cumberland.”

• Despite the fact that he had mistresses, George was very upset when his wife, Caroline, died. He swore to her on her deathbed that he would never marry again, and he never did.

• George consolidated the House of Hanover’s control over the British crown. He also consolidated the beginnings of the British Empire. During George II’s reign, England gained control of Canada from the French as a result of the Seven Years’ (a.k.a. in America the French and Indian) War and over India.

bronzemat

I've enjoyed this series and your coins, thanks for doing them.

Bob13

I like the "LIMA" coinage - sort of a we stole your money and are going to remind you of it.

BillDugan1959

I enjoy your series, but will point out that the Battle of Culloden was April 16, 1746.

The Duke of Cumberland's military career was very highly mixed in the end, but he had a good run of victories for a while.

291fifth

The "Lima" coins remind me of today's internet posters who show videos of themselves committing crimes. In the case of royals, however, the rules are different.

BillDugan1959

In the case of War, the rules are different.

asheland

Great thread. I once had a Lima half crown but sold it. That's one I actually miss.

SaorAlba

I once found a 1743 Lima Shilling in a coin machine reject slot, like about 10 years ago. Alas on the reverse in tiny letters was stamped "copy".

messydesk

Nice coins, nice write-up, as always. I have a George II 1747 Shilling in my Prime Number set, and a 1758 sixpence in my "This is cool, I think I'll buy it" set. (I'll replace these pictures, which I downloaded from the PCGS Registry, with sharper ones later.)