George II 1739 Sixpence, roses reverse, young head

George II (1727-60),silver Sixpence, 1739, roses and plumes reverse, young laureate and draped bust left, legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS. II. DEI. GRATIA.,rev.crowned cruciform shields, roses in angles, seven strings to Irish harp, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown, M.B.F. ET. H. REX. F.D. B. ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T. ET. E., weight 2.99g (Bull 1749; ESC 1612; S.3707).Toned almost extremely fine.

The Latin legends translate to on obverse "George II by the Grace of God" continuing on the reverse in abbreviated Latin which if in shown in full reads "Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor Brun et Lunebergen-sis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-Thesaurius et Elector" and translates as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

The roses and plumes on reverse indicates this coin is struck from silver derived from English and Welsh mines and sources.

We note the silver output for 1739 was £10,528 which would have gone towards minting Crowns, Halfcrowns, Shillings, Sixpences and smaller silver. The roses reverse would seem to indicate silver sourced from English mines, though documentary evidence has not been forthcoming as detailed in new book "The Metal in Britain's Coins" by Graham Birch in Chapter 16 "The Enigmatic Roses Coins" page 217.