![Mary II & William III, Half Crown, 1689 [ECM-256] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ECM-256-2.jpg)
Description
Kingdom of England, Mary II of the House of Stuart & William III of the House of Orange-Nassau, as Queen and King of England 1688-1694 AD, Silver Half Crown (14.77g, 33mm), 1689, frosting only to caul and with pearls to crown type, Royal mint London. Obverse: Jugate busts of King William III and Queen Mary II facing to the right, William III laureate and cuirassed and both draped, legend surrounds, “GVLIELMVS· ET· MARIA· DEI· GRATIA”. Reverse: First-type Royal Arms of the Kingdom of England, as borne by Queen Mary II and King William III, surmounted by Saint Edward’s Crown, frosting to caul and with pearls to band, date either side of crown, legend surrounds, “·MAG· BR· FR· ET· HIB· REX· ET· REGINA·”. Edge: Inscription in raised lettering, “DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI PRIMO”. S-3434. Minor obverse marks, easily looked over when considering the choicely toned visage of grey framed with peripheral blues, evenly worn and quite attractive in hand, near Extremely Fine.
The Latin legend across the obverse and reverse is the royal titulature of Queen Mary II and King William III, reading unabridged as “Gulielmus et Marīa, Deī grātiā, Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae rēx et rēgīna”, with an English translation of “William and Mary, by the grace of God, King and Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland”. The edge Latin legend is stated in full and reads “Decus et tūtāmen, annō regni prīmō”, with an English translation of “An ornament and safeguard, first regnal year”.
