Description
George II of the House of Hanover, King of Great Britain 1727-1760 AD, Silver Half Crown (14.96g, 33mm), 1746 LIMA. Obverse: Second, older laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of King George II facing to the left, “LIMA” below bust, legend surrounds, “GEORGIVS· II· DEI· GRATIA·”. Reverse: Cruciform Shield of Arms of the House of Hanover as the sovereigns of Great Britain (1714-1801), each surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown, Garter Star at centre, date either side of top crown, legend surrounds, “·M· B· F· ET· H· REX· F·D· B· ET· L· D· S· R· I· A· T· ET· E·”. Edge: Inscription in raised letters, “DECVS· ET· TVTAMEN· ANNO· REGNI· DECIMO· NONO·”. Bull-1688; ESC-606; Spink-3695A. Minor mark on reverse, otherwise evenly worn and nice original cabinet grey toning, a well-known type, Very Fine, reverse good Very Fine.
1745-46 LIMA pieces were struck from a large hoard of silver captured from the Spanish by Admiral Anson’s squadron operating in the Pacific Ocean. The word “Lima” engraved under the bust is a reference to the fact that the Spanish silver was being shipped from Lima, Peru back to Spain when it was intercepted by Anson.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Geōrgius Secundus, Deī Grātiā”, with an English translation of “George the Second, by the Grace of God”. The reverse Latin legend continues from the obverse and reads “Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae Rex, Fideī Dēfēnsor, Brūnsvīcēnsis et Lūnebērgēnsis Dux, Sacrī Romani imperiī Archīthesaurarius et Elector”, with an English translation of “King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire”.