Lot 1117
Anne (1702-14), silver Pre-Union Halfcrown, 1703. VIGO. below draped bust left, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, ANNA.DEI. GRATIA. rev. Pre-Union crowned cruciform shields, garter star at center, date either side of top crown.MAG BR. FRA. ET. HIB REG. edge inscribed in raised letters.+. DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN. ANNO. REGNI. TERTIO, weight 15.02g (Bull 1358; ESC 569; S 3580; KM 518.2). Attractively toned, in PCGS holder graded AU 50. Estimated Value $1,000
PCGS certification 34313084. In the British series of all the provenance mark currency coins, not just in the reign of Queen Anne but across the whole range of British coins showing a mark or word of where the metal was sourced to strike the coinage, the most intrepid of stories is behind the capture of the Vigo treasure. The Battle of Vigo Bay occurred on 23rd October 1702, and it was after the Battle that the treasure largely of silver, with a tiny proportion of gold was captured and transported back to Southampton on the south coast of England. From there the treasure was brought with great pomp and ceremony to London, overseen by the Mint Master himself, one Mr Isaac Newton, to then be turned into coinage at the Royal Mint in the Tower of London. The treasure consisted of thousands of pounds in weight of silver from which this Halfcrown would have been struck, but a mere seven pounds and eight ounces of gold.
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| Realized $2,478 |
