The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Five Guineas: William III (obverse); Four Shields and Lion of Nassau (reverse)

Five Guineas: William III (obverse); Four Shields and Lion of Nassau (reverse)

1701
Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Of the coinage minted by William III, this type is considered the finest because of the profusion of detail.

Description

There were three types used on the five guinea coin of William III, who continued to reign long after the death of Mary. As hammered coinage was still in circulation along with the mill coins, the government decided to call in all the remaining hammered pieces in 1695, completing the reform of the coinage. This affected mostly the silver coinage. Gold was gradually reduced until the value of the guinea, when set against the silver coinage, was 21 shillings and 6 pence. The guinea finally settled at 21 shillings.
  • -1969
    Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1969-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. [Catalog. 1968. p. 61
  • Year in Review: 1969. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 27-February 22, 1970).
    English Gold Coins: Ancient to Modern Times. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1963).
  • {{cite web|title=Five Guineas: William III (obverse); Four Shields and Lion of Nassau (reverse)|url=false|author=|year=1701|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1969.202