Lot 2898
Great Britain. Pattern Farthing in silver or official medalet, Undated. MI-695-92; Montagu 22. Edge plain. 23 mm. William III, 1694-1702. Tribute to William. Obverse, portrait of king facing right by John Roettier, legend GVLIELMVS III DEI GRATIA. Reverse, sun with rays NON DEVIO above. Mint state with a beautiful gold and ocean blue iridescent tone over proof surfaces. Surely the finest available example of this enigmatic piece. NGC graded MS-63. WINGS. Estimate Value $300 - 350
* Montagu originally described this piece as a 'pattern for a currency coinage' but later wondered if it was a medalet. Montagu pointed out that William III had only come to the throne by means of the flight of his predecessors and the consequent extinction of the Stuart line. He said 'Knowing the strong feeling among the lower classes, especially, in favour of what was considered to be the divinely legitimate race, it is quite probable that he (William III) thought it politic to distribute jettons of this kind as widely as possible, to give publicity to and ensure recognition of his and his queen's titles as reigning monarchs.'.
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| Realized $517 |
