MS61 William and Mary (1688-94), silver Halfcrown, 1689, first conjoined busts right, legend surrounding, GVLIELMVS. ET. MARIA. DEI. GRATIA, toothed border around rim both sides, rev. second crowned quartered shield of arms with an escutcheon of the Lion of Nassau, caul and interior frosted with pearls on crown band, date either side of crown, .MAG. BR. FR. ET. HIB. REX. ET. REGINA. edge inscribed in raised letters, .+. DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN. ANNO. REGNI. PRIMO, 14.99g (Bull 837; ESC 508; S.3435). Attractively toned, has been graded by NGC as MS61.

NGC Certification 5880764-002.

We note this coin is currently the finest graded of the variety at NGC who have labelled it as a caul only frosted variety though it does seem to have a trace of frosting on the interior of the crown too. PCGS do not differentiate the varieties in the grading records other than delineating the first shield from the second shield, so out of the 36 second shield pieces they have graded only three grade finer which may well be of a more common variety.

The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "William and Mary by the Grace of God," and abbreviated on the reverse as "King and Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland." and additionally on the edge "An ornament and a safeguard, in the first year of the reign."

Provenance:
Ex Spink America Auction, New-York, 3 December 1996, lot 562.
Ex Colin Adams, Collection of Halfcrowns, Spink, 1st December 2005, lot 392.
(£2,500-3,000)