Anne. 1702-1714. AR halfcrown. 14.97 gm. 33 mm. Before Union with Scotland. Tower (London) mint. 1703 TERTIO. Her draped first bust left; VIGO below / Crowned cruciform shields, plain angles (eight strings in harp). S. 3580. Bull 1358 (ESC 569). Good Very Fine; lightly toned; lightly hairlined and rubbed and a few light scratches and nicks; cleaned at one time and now retoning; relatively free of the haymarking typical in this series.

The Frank Robinson Collection.

This historic and popular issue was struck from silver plate seized from Spain in the Battle of Vigo Bay, an attempt to deprive it of wealth it had secured from its American colonies. It was hauled with great fanfare to the Royal Mint in the Tower of London to be transformed into coinage, overseen by the Mint Master, Isaac Newton.