© Spink and Son
© Spink and Son
½ Crown - William III 1st bust; large shields, ordinary harp
| Silver (.925) (Exeter mint) | 14.95 g | 32.3 mm |
| Issuer | England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| King | William III (1694-1702) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1696-1697 |
| Value | ½ Crown (⅛) |
| Currency | Pound sterling (1158-1970) |
| Composition | Silver (.925) (Exeter mint) |
| Weight | 14.95 g |
| Diameter | 32.3 mm |
| Thickness | 1.5 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | 31 December 1969 |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#224715 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Crowned cruciform shields around central Nassau lion, divided date above, legend around.
Note: large shields, ordinary harp
Script: Latin
Lettering: MAG BR·FRA ET·HIB REX·16 97·
Translation: King of Great Britain France and Ireland
Edge
Year of reign in Latin and motto
Lettering: DECVS.ET.TVTAMEN.ANNO.REGNI.NONO.+.+.+.+.
Translation: An ornament and a safeguard, ninth year of reign
Comment
In 1696 a great re-coinage was undertaken to replace the hammered silver that made up mpst of the coinage in circulation, much of it being clipped and badly worn. Branch mints were set up at Bristol, Chester, Exeter, Norwich and York to help with the re-coinage.
The standard weight of this coin was 15/31 troy ounce or 232.3 grains.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features a rare design error. The coin was minted with a large shield on the reverse side, which was not supposed to be used on this particular denomination. This mistake makes the coin highly sought after by collectors, and it is considered a valuable rarity in the numismatic community.
