Anne (1702-14). Silver Crown, 1703, VIGO. below first draped bust left, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, ANNA.DEI. GRATIA., Rev. Pre-Union crowned cruciform shields, seven strings to Irish harp, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding.MAG BR. FRA ET. HIB REG., edge inscribed in raised letters of upright orientation to obverse.+ DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN. ANNO. REGNI. TERTIO (Bull 1340; ESC 99; C&R 562 R; S.3576; KM.519.1). Attractively toned, slabbed and graded by PCGS as AU58, the only example at this grade with only two graded higher out of 22 pieces; for comparison NGC currently have graded 34 pieces of which only 4 are higher; we note Sovereign Rarities auction 1 sold a beautiful raw example of the Vigo Crown in September for £15,000 sterling hammer price. Estimate Value $15,000 - UP
Ex A H Baldwin, purchased May 1976. Ex E D J Van Roekel Collection, Spink Coin Auction 156, 15th November 2001, lot 164.
PCGS certification 616699.58/36046639. The most intrepid of stories lays behind the capture of the Vigo treasure as opposed to the other companies or privateers who had their mark placed upon the coins in other reigns. The Battle of Vigo Bay occurred on 23rd October 1702 and it was after the Battle that the treasure largely of silver, with a tiny proportion of gold was captured and transported back to Southampton on the south coast of England. From there the treasure was brought with great pomp and ceremony to London, overseen by the Mint Master himself, one Mr Isaac Newton, to then be turned into coinage at the Royal Mint in the Tower of London. The treasure consisted of absolutely thousands of pounds in weight of silver, but a mere seven pounds and eight ounces of gold. The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Anne by the Grace of God," and abbreviated on the reverse as "Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland." and additionally on the edge "An ornament and a safeguard, in the third year of the reign."