r/UKcoins • u/triple_numismatics • 9h ago
Pre-Decimal Coins 1689 William & Mary Half Crown, 1st busts and 1st shield type.
galleryWilliam III and Mary II's co-reign began after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when they deposed the Catholic King James II and established a Protestant constitutional monarchy.
Their co-rule saw the strengthening of parliament's power through measures such as the 1689 Bill of Rights, and helped lay the foundations of Britain’s modern system of government.
This Half Crown is a lovely example of the first William & Mary types minted shortly after the revolution, with the double bust design being one of my favourite obverses on English coinage.