ANNE. (1702 to 1714.)
Denominations.—Silver. Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, Penny. Gold. Five-guinea, Two-guinea, Guinea, Half-guinea. Copper. Farthing.
Obverse.—Type. Sinister bust profile, draped, hair thrown back, and tied at back of head with a ribband, which passes round the head.
Legend. ANNA DEI GRATIA.
Reverse.—Type. Four crowned shields in cross. Before the union these shields were, 1 England, 2 Scotland, 3 France, 4 Ireland. After the union they were altered to two shields of England and Scotland impaled, one of France, and one of Ireland. In the centre, the cross of St. George, in a star of the garter; between the shields, feathers or roses, or feathers and roses alternately; Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny, values, crowned.
Legend. MAG BRI FR ET HIB REG and date.
Edge. DECVS ET TVTAMEN, and year of reign.
Rarity. All common. The smaller denominations scarcer than the others.
Gold. Same type and legend and edge. Reverse, sceptres between the shields.
Copper. As there is so much popular error concerning the farthings, it may be well to remark at length upon them, in order to clear away the absurd idea generally entertained, of there being only three in existence. Instead of this being the case, there are absolutely six distinct varieties. The first, which is the only one which was ever in general circulation, has, on the obverse, sinister bust profile, of queen, draped, hair thrown back, encircled with a string of pearls, ANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, figure of Britannia, olive branch in her right, and spear in her left hand, BRITANNIA, date, 1714, in exergue: this, although scarce, is by far the commonest of the whole: there is one with the same type, but broad rim, which is rare. Second, bust as before, ANNA REGINA; reverse, as last. Third, same bust, ANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, figure of Britannia, right leg bare; BRITANNIA, 1713, round. Fourth, obverse as before; reverse, Britannia, as last, under an arch; BRITANNIA in exergue, 1713. Fifth, bust as before, with band instead of pearls, within an inner circle (the busts on the others are on the field); reverse, figure of Britannia standing, helmeted, in the right hand the olive branch, and in her left the spear, within inner circle; BELLO ET PACE; date 1715, in exergue. Sixth, bust as one, ANNA AVGVSTA; reverse, same figure as last, standing in a car, drawn by two horses; in her right hand she holds the olive branch, in her left the reins and a spear; PAX MISSA PER ORBEM; in exergue, 1713. The prices depend upon the state of preservation of the coins, but, for FINE ones, the following are about the values: 1, from six shillings to fourteen shillings; 2 and 3, from fifteen shillings to thirty shillings; 3, 4, and 6, from two to three pounds: 5, the rarest, from five to ten, or twelve pounds. There is a small medal, or counter, which is very frequently mistaken by the generality of persons for one of her farthings. It has on the obverse the bust, with ANNA DEI GRATIA; reverse, the four shields in cross, sometimes plain, and sometimes with roses between the shields, MAG BR FRA ET HIB REG 1711; frequently RIG instead of REG. Some of these are of beautiful workmanship, and others very rude: they are far from being scarce; they were not struck as current coins. Halfpenny, bust, ANNA D G MAG BR FR ET HIB REG; reverse, sitting figure of Britannia, leaning on a shield, in her left hand a spear, in her right a rose and thistle emanating from the same branch; the whole beneath a crown.