Summary

Silver coin: Denomination: Shilling
Tower Mint, London
King William III and Queen Mary II (1688-1694)

Mary was the daughter of James II. For reasons of politics she had married William of Orange, James II nephew and left England to live with him in the Netherlands. When James II lost support, William was invited to invade England and to take over the throne jointly with his wife. James II escaped to France and live there in exile until his death.

The reverse of the coin depicts the crowned Royal shield showing the lands controlled - England, Scotland, Ireland and France with the arms of the House Nassau, representing William, at the centre. The legend reads continuously on both sides of the coin and is in abbreviated latin; it translates: William and Mary King and Queen of Great Britain France, and Ireland.

Obverse Description

Laureate conjoined busts of William and Mary facing right; around, GVLIELMVS ET MARIA DEI GRATIA.

Reverse Description

Crowned shields of England, Scotland, France and Ireland forming a cross shape around the arms of Nassau at the centre; in the angles between the shields, the monogram WM above a numeral of the date 1693; around, MAG BR FR ET HI REX ET REGINA.

Edge Description

Diagonal milling ///

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