Description
Edward VII of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, King of the United Kingdom 1901-1910 AD, Silver Half Crown (14.18g, 32mm), 1902. Obverse: Bare head of King Edward VII facing to the right, engraver’s initials ‘DES.’ (George William De Saulles) below, legend surrounds, “EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX”. Reverse: Royal Shield of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952) surmounted by Tudor Crown, buckled garter bearing the motto “HONI SOIT. QVI MAL Y PENSE.” and beaded border surrounds, date and denomination surrounds below, legend surrounds above, “FID: DEF: IND: IMP:”. Spink-3980; Bull-3567; ESC-746. Minor scuffs to obverse and slight contact marks to reverse, an imposing and noteworthy currency strike, virtually Mint State, reverse Mint State.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Edwardus Septimus, Deī Grātiā, Britanniārum Omnium Rēx”, with an English translation of “Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God, King of all the British People”. The Reverse Latin legend continues from the obverse and reads “Fideī Dēfēnsor, Indiae Imperātor”, with an English translation of “Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”. 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”.
