1707 E Great Britain Queen Anne Crown Silver Coin

Product Description:

Attractive problem free example, Scarce as such

After the demise of William III, Anne Stuart, the offspring of James II, ascended to the throne, reigning as queen from 1707 to 1714. As the ultimate Stuart monarch, she presided over the unification of England and Scotland into a singular kingdom in 1707, marking her as the inaugural ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. This particular coin is the first coin issued after the Union of England and Scotland and as such features the Scottish Coat of arms in the Reverse as well as being some of the first British coins minted in Edinburgh.

Venturing back to 1526, Henry VIII introduced a gold coin, supplanting the sovereign. This marked the inception of crowns, a currency with a rich historical background. Acknowledging the vulnerability of sovereigns due to their soft composition, the era ushered in the era of 'crown gold' – a durable alternative that became the enduring standard for British gold coins. Interestingly, this evolution was necessitated by the fragility of sovereigns from that period.

Fast forward to 1551, when coins identical in size and weight but crafted from silver emerged. These silver coins adopted the name "crown" from their gold predecessor. The transition was complete in 1662, following the cessation of gold crown production, making silver crowns the exclusive bearers of the title. Queen Anne's reign witnessed these numismatic shifts, adding an extra layer of historical charm to the fascinating story of British coinage.

Obverse: Second draped bust of Queen Anne facing left

Reverse: Crowned cruciform shields with central Garter star