1792 Barbados Penny NGC MS63 BN. Pr-15, KM-Tn10. This British Colonial Penny is well struck and has a pleasing sheen to both sides. The coin is well struck with full details seen on the tips of the feathers, and the slaves hair, as well as the horses heads and Kings knee. No wear is seen, as expected for a mint state coin. The surfaces are clean for the grade and free of major distractions.

Designed by John Milton, an assistant engraver at the Royal Mint, the obverse shows a bust of an African wearing a feathered crown with the legend I SERVE. The reverse shows Neptune riding a chariot over the sea with the identifying legend BARBADOS PENNY above and the date below. Some researchers believe that the depiction is of George III dressed as Neptune. The first Europeans to colonize the Barbados Islands were the British in 1625. Two years later, Henry Powell arrived with a group of eighty settlers and ten slaves.

The settlement was funded by Sir William Courten, a London merchant. Since he owned the title to Barbados, the first colonists were tenants of his and the profits went to Courten and his company. Later Courten lost his title to James Hay, 1st Earl of Carisle. He made Henry Hawley governor. Slave codes were implemented and the sugar cane industry became dominant in the islands economy. The workers shifted from white, British prisoners and poor immigrants to black, African slaves. By the end of the 18th century, the population was majority black African. After 1750, plantations were owned by absentee landlords who lived in Britain.

In its population report, NGC shows 1 1792 Barbados Penny in MS63 with none better.