Description
Anne of the House of Stuart, Queen of England 1702-1714 AD, Silver Half Crown (14.93g, 33mm), 1709, Post-Union with Scotland, Tower mint, London. Obverse: Diademed bust of Queen Anne facing to the left, wearing simple dress fastened at the front with round jewelled clasp, legend surrounds, “ANNA· DEI· GRATIA·”. Reverse: Cruciform Shield of Arms of the House of Stuart, each surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown, Irish harp of 8 strings, Garter Star at centre, date either side of top crown, legend surrounds, “·MAG BRI· FR ET· HIB REG·”. Edge: Inscription in raised letters, “DECVS· ET· TVTAMEN· ·ANNO· REGNI· OCTAVO·”. Bull-1371; Spink-3604; ESC-579. Few hairline scratches to obverse field, otherwise evenly worn and nicely toned – the obverse with a deep grey and the reverse with a charming array of amber through the devices, Very Fine, reverse better.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Anna, Deī Grātiā”, with an English translation of “Anna, by the Grace of God”. The obverse Latin legend continues on the reverse and reads “Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae Rēgīna”, with an English translation of “Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland”. The edge Latin legend reads “Decus et tūtāmen, annō regni octāvō”, with an English translation of “An ornament and safeguard, eighth regnal year”.