Groat of William IV

The Groat of William IV is a small silver four-pence coin struck in Britain during the reign of William IV (1830–1837). The photographed piece is a reverse showing Britannia seated with a trident and a shield beside her, dated 1836, which is the first year of the reintroduced denomination. Only the reverse is shown here; the obverse of the type carries the bare-headed portrait of the king.

This coin is often called a "fourpence" and was popularly nicknamed the "Joey." It was a genuine circulating silver coin, small and thin, intended for everyday small change rather than for ceremonial or bullion use. As a milled (machine-struck) coin of the 1830s it has sharp, regular detail and a plain, dignified design typical of British silver of the period.

The groat, or fourpence, had a long history in English coinage but had largely fallen out of general circulation by the eighteenth century, surviving mainly as a Maundy denomination. It was revived as a coin for ordinary use in 1836, during William IV's reign, and this William IV issue was struck only in 1836 and 1837 before the king's death in 1837.

The revival is traditionally associated with the politician Joseph Hume, who pressed for a convenient small silver coin for everyday transactions such as short cab and omnibus fares; the popular nickname "Joey" is usually linked to him. The denomination continued under Queen Victoria, so William IV groats represent the short opening chapter of the modern circulating fourpence.

The coins were produced at the Royal Mint using the milled methods of the era. Because the William IV series spans only two dates, it is a compact type to collect, and surviving pieces circulated as genuine money before the fourpence eventually faded from general use later in the nineteenth century.

The reverse, shown in the photograph, has Britannia seated holding a trident, with a shield resting beside her and the date in the field — here 1836. This seated-Britannia reverse is the defining feature of the fourpence and distinguishes it from other small silver of the period. The obverse of the type, not shown here, carries the bare head of William IV facing right with a Latin royal legend.

The coin is small — roughly 16 mm across and only a couple of grams — and struck in sterling silver, so it will feel light and thin and show the cool grey tone of circulated silver. Its size sits between the tiny silver threepence and the larger sixpence, so measuring the diameter and weight is the surest way to confirm the fourpence denomination.

Because William IV groats are dated only 1836 and 1837, the date is a key diagnostic: an 1836 or 1837 date with the seated-Britannia reverse and a bare-headed male portrait points to this reign, whereas the same reverse with a young female portrait indicates the later Victoria fourpence instead.

William IV groats are collectable but not rare, so most circulated examples are modest in value, priced as affordable type coins. Worn pieces with flat detail sit at the lower end, while coins that keep sharp detail on Britannia and the portrait, with clean surfaces and good eye appeal, command more.

Value rises steeply with grade. Well-preserved, lightly circulated, or uncirculated examples — and proof strikings, where they exist — are worth substantially more than ordinary worn coins, and originality of surface matters as much as the date. As with all small silver, cleaning, scratches, and edge damage reduce value.

Because the William IV series is short and specific dates and die varieties can carry premiums, treat any single figure as broad context only. For a realistic estimate, compare recent auction and dealer sales of William IV fourpence coins in the same grade, and have any high-grade or unusual piece checked by a specialist.