Artwork Page for Five Guineas: William & Mary (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse)

Details / Information for Five Guineas: William & Mary (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse)

Five Guineas: William & Mary (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse)

1691

England, William and Mary, 1688-1694

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Medium
gold
Measurements
Diameter: 3.6 cm (1 7/16 in.)
Weight: 41.802 g (1.47 oz.)
Credit Line
The Norweb Collection 1969.201
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

The shield of arms includes Ireland, represented by a harp, and Scotland, represented by a lion.

Description

William of Orange-Nassau, and his wife Mary, daughter of James II, were proclaimed joint monarchs. Thus both their heads appear on their coinage. The only other instance of this in England is in the reign of Philip and Mary, 1554–58. Below them is a small elephant representing Guinea, the origin of the metal. William and Mary were invited to the English throne after James II had been driven from it, mainly because the people feared he was about to re-establish the Church of Rome.

Five Guineas: William & Mary (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse)

1691

England, William and Mary, 1688-1694

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