Five Guineas: William & Mary (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse)

Description

William of Orange-Nassau, and his wife Mary, daughter of James II, were proclaimed joint monarchs. Thus both their heads appear on their coinage. The only other instance of this in England is in the reign of Philip and Mary, 1554–58. Below them is a small elephant representing Guinea, the origin of the metal. William and Mary were invited to the English throne after James II had been driven from it, mainly because the people feared he was about to re-establish the Church of Rome.

Provenance

Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1969-)

Five Guineas: William & Mary (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse)

[]

1691

Accession Number

1969.201

Medium

gold

Dimensions

Diameter: 3.6 cm (1 7/16 in.)

Classification

Coins

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

The Norweb Collection