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Auction: 22105 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 20 - The Wootton Collection of English Silver Coins - e-Auction
Lot: 2376

William and Mary (1688-1694), Halfcrown, 1689 PRIMO, seriffed V in GVLIELMVS, laureate and draped busts right, rev. legend reading FRA and tight to crown, first crowned shield, no frosting, with pearls, eight strings to harp and seven billets, lettered edge downwards, 14.54g, 6h (Bull 829 [R2]; ESC 507B; Spink 3434), an edge bruise at 11 o'clock, rubbed and quite flat with superficial scratches on busts, otherwise lightly toned, good / near fine, a very rare variety

Messrs Seaby first recognised the FRA spelling as a variety of this broad 1689 Halfcrown series in 1953. Further cursory study by the present cataloguer has confirmed that the unusual seriffing to the first V of GVLIELMVS is also a unique feature of this die marriage with all of the few specimens of the FRA type encountered possessing the form, but with no other precedent across the rest of the series. Close examination would suggest it a deliberate feature rather than a die break, but why such styling would apply only to the first V of GVLIELMVS is not clear.

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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£90