Five Guineas: William III (obverse); Four Shields and Lion of Nassau (reverse)
Details
- Author / creator
- England, William III, 1694-1702
- Object type
- Coin or medal
- Date or period
- 1701
- Dimensions summary
- Diameter: 3.7 cm
- Denomination
- Five Guineas
- Issuer / ruler
- William III
- Mint
- London (Tower Mint)
- Metal
- Gold
- Weight (g)
- 41.69
- Diameter (mm)
- 37
- Image rights
- Public domain (CC0)
About this object
There were three types used on the five guinea coin of William III, who continued to reign long after the death of Mary. As hammered coinage was still in circulation along with the mill coins, the government decided to call in all the remaining hammered pieces in 1695, completing the reform of the coinage. This affected mostly the silver coinage. Gold was gradually reduced until the value of the guinea, when set against the silver coinage, was 21 shillings and 6 pence. The guinea finally settled at 21 shillings.
Materials and technique
Gold
Signature and marks
GVLIELMVS . III . DEI . GRA. (“William the third by the grace of God”); Reverse: MAG BR∙ FRA ET∙ HIB REX∙ 1701 (“King of Great Britain, France and Ireland 1701”); Edge: DECUS ET TUTAMEN (“an ornament and a safeguard in the thirteenth year of the reign”)
Obverse
William III
Reverse
Four Shields and Lion of Nassau
