For much of British history, silver coins were struck to the Sterling silver standard of 0.925 fine (11 parts silver to 1 of alloy). Exceptions to this were during the reign of Edward III when the fineness dropped to 0.833 (from 1335 - 1343) and that of Henry VIII when the fineness was reduced in 3 stages to 4oz 2dwt between 1544 and 1546 in an attempt to boost the royal coffers. On his death in 1547, continuing financial necessity demanded the currency remain debased. In 1551 it was further reduced to 3oz 2dwt, or a little over 25% pure. To restore confidence in the currency a return to the old silver standard was made over the next 9 years. There was a small reduction between 1578 and 1582 from 0.925 fine to 0.921 fine. Despite the presures and temptations of the Civil War (1642-6), the coinage was almost without exception struck to the correct standard. In 1920 the standard dropped to 0.500 fine and silver currency production ended in 1946.
William III 1696 Crown, D/G in GRA, No Obverse Stops
£250.00
S3470, ESC 996 (89A) [R3], William III 1696 first bust crown with no stops in the obverse legend and the G of GRA struck over a D. OCTAVO edge. Rare....
S3499, ESC 1165 (1082). William III 1696 first bust shilling struck at Chester. Scarce.
Struck slightly off-centre and weak in parts. The reverse with a couple marks.
Grade: gFine
S3500, ESC 1180 (1084). William III 1696 first bust shilling struck at Exeter. Scarce. Decent detail, but lightly tooled in the obverse field and the surfaces a little pitted. Grade:...
S3505, ESC 1128 (1102). William III 1697 third bust shilling. Cleaned with slightly pitted surfaces, an obverse die break vertically through the bust and a dent in the English shield....
S3507, ESC 1171 (1089). William III 1697 third bust shilling struck at Chester. Small lettering on the reverse. Rare.
Toned with scratches and the fields tooled.
Grade: Fine/gFine
S3500, ESC 1182 (1098). William III 1697 first bust shilling struck at Exeter. Rare.
Good detail with light scratches from cleaning.
Grade: gFine - nVF
S3515, ESC 1141 (1115). William III 1698 fourth bust ('flaming hair') shilling. Rare. Toned with general wear and a small reverse mark at 7 o'clock. A perfectly acceptable example of...
S3516, ESC 1151 (1121A). William III 1697 fifth bust shilling with circular OO's in the date.
Light friction to the high points only and extensive haymarking to both sides.
Grade: EF
S3835, Davies 340, ESC 2488 (1266). William IV 1831 plain edge proof shilling as issued in the sets. Attractively toned and brilliant. Slightly impaired with light marks in the fields...
S3835, Davies 341, ESC 2489 (1268). William IV 1834 shilling with flat topped 3.
Toned with moderate wear to the high points. Better than VF.
Grade: VF+
S3835, Davies 343 & 347, ESC 2492 (1271) & 2497 (1276). William IV 1835 and 1837 shillings. The first scarce, the second rare. The first virtually flat, the second with...
S3835, Davies 343, ESC 2492 (1271). William IV 1835 shilling with flat topped 3 in date.
Bright with minimal wear and a thin hairline through the bust.
Grade: EF+
S3835, Davies 345, ESC 2494 (1273). William IV 1836 shilling with flat topped 3 in date.
Lightly toned with wear to the higher points, the reverse a touch better.
Grade: nEF