FAQs

What makes a coin valuable?

Plus Icon

I have coins to sell, what’s the next step?

Plus Icon

How will my purchases be shipped?

Plus Icon

What happens if I’m not entirely happy with my purchase?

Plus Icon
FM20030

William III Norwich Shilling with Irish harp struck over three fleur de lis unknown!

William III (1694-1702),silver Shilling, Norwich Mint, 1697(?), Irish harp on reverse struck over three fleur de lis, first laureate and draped bust right, N provenance mark below, legend and toothed border surrounding, GVLIELMVS. III.DEI.GRA.,rev.crowned cruciform shields, five string Irish harp struck over three fleur de lis, Lion of Nassau at centre, date almost illegible either side of top crown, .MAG. BR.FRA. ET.HIB. REX., weight 5.80g (Bull -; ESC -; cf.S.3501).Toned with much wear and surface marks, though the reverse variety clear, the engraver erroneously entered French arms where the Irish should have been, so corrected this with the harp over the top, fine and the only example we have ever seen or are aware of, of the highest rarity.

The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "William III by the Grace of God," and abbreviated on the reverse as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland."

The great recoinage period of 1696-98 when all the older hammered silver coins were called in to be melted and minted as fresh new milled coins of King William III has spawned a great many varieties for collectors over the years. The fact that six mints were in operation within the period with coins from London without provenance mark, Chester with a C, Bristol with a B, Exeter with an E, Norwich with a N and York with a Y made the coinage ripe for the discovery of errors like the piece we have demonstrated here. The unusual over striking of Irish arms over French arms has as far as we are aware not been published in a reference book yet. Presumably of the highest rarity.

No reviews yet

FAQs

What makes a coin valuable?

Plus Icon

I have coins to sell, what’s the next step?

Plus Icon

How will my purchases be shipped?

Plus Icon

What happens if I’m not entirely happy with my purchase?

Plus Icon
1 of 4