Great Britain 1689 1st Type William & Mary Half Crown VF-EF (VF30) $

Great Britain 1689 1st Type William & Mary Half Crown VF-EF (VF-30) 

The Great Britain 1689 1st Type William & Mary Half Crown was minted in 1689, the first year of the joint reign of William III and Mary II. Their ascension to the throne was not by hereditary succession but through a parliamentary act, following the bloodless overthrow of Mary’s Catholic father, King James II, during the Glorious Revolution. This event solidified Protestant rule and affirmed the supremacy of Parliament over the crown with the enactment of the Bill of Rights later that year. The coin is one of the few in English history to feature conjoined busts of two reigning monarchs, symbolizing their shared authority. Its edge bears the inscription “DECVS ET TVTAMENT ANNO REGNI PRIMO” (“An ornament and safeguard, in the first year of the reign”), a feature designed to deter the rampant coin clipping that was common at the time.

Obverse: First laureate conjoined busts of King William and Queen Mary right, legend around. 

Reverse: Quartered shield of arms with crown above, dividing date, legend around. 

Specifications:
Queen: Mary II (1689-1694) 
King: William II (1689-1702) 
Composition: Silver (.925) 
Weight: 15.05 g 
Edge: Regnal year in Latin 
Diameter: 34 mm 
Die Axis: ↑↓
Mint: Royal Mint (Tower Mint)