Half Guinea: Anne (obverse); Shields and Rose (reverse)

Description

The coinage of Anne's reign remained fairly constant after the inaugural design in 1662. Before the Act of Union with Scotland (1706), the arms of England and Scotland remained separate, as shown. After the act the two arms were conjoined on one shield. The word Vigo indicates the coins were struck from gold captured from the Spanish at the Battle of Vigo Bay (1702). Although silver coins bearing the Vigo inscription are less rare, the three gold denominations bearing the symbol are all extremely rare.

Provenance

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

Half Guinea: Anne (obverse); Shields and Rose (reverse)

[]

1703

Accession Number

1969.205

Medium

gold

Dimensions

Diameter: 2.1 cm (13/16 in.)

Classification

Coins

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

The Norweb Collection