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World Crowns and Minors
2934 Great Britain. Sixpence, 1697. S.3537; ESC- 1565. William
III. 3rd bust. Obverse reads GVLIEIMVS in error. Mint state with
an attractive pastel tone, and very rare thus. NGC graded MS-
63.
Estimate Value ..................................................... $400 - 450
2935 Great Britain. Shilling, 1697. S.3516; ESC-1108. William III.
Obverse, laureate draped bust of king right. Reverse; Crowned
cruciform shields. Attractively toned and uncirculated. NGC
graded MS-63. WINGS APPROVED.
Estimate Value ..................................................... $350 - 400
2936 Great Britain. Shilling, 1697. S.3497; ESC-1091. William III.
First draped bust left. Lovely original toning and mint fresh lus-
ter. NGC graded MS-63. WINGS APPROVED .
Estimate Value ..................................................... $250 - 300
2937 Great Britain. Halfcrown, 1698. S.3494; ESC-554. William
III. Obverse, draped laureate bust of king right. Reverse;
Crowned cruciform shields. DECIMO on edge in raised letters. A
delightful mint state coin which is lightly toned in shades of
blue, gold and cerise. The portrait is very sharply detailed and
neither the obverse nor reverse exhibits the usual striking
imperfections. Superb. NGC graded MS-64. WINGS
APPROVED.
Estimate Value ................................................$1,600 - 1,800
2938 Great Britain. Pattern Proof Farthing struck in silver,
1698. Peck-680. William III. A rare piece in a collectible condi-
tion. NGC graded Proof 12.
Estimate Value ......................................................$400 - 450
2939 Great Britain. Silver Penny, 1698. S.3552. William III.
Absolutely mint state with a little toning. Obverse, portrait of
king right. Reverse; Crowned numeral mark of value. Unusual in
this state of preservation. NGC graded MS-65. WINGS
APPROVED.
Estimate Value ......................................................$150 - 175
2940 Great Britain. Pattern Proof Farthing struck in silver,
1699. Peck-682. William III. Date in obverse legend. No stop
after date. With a light peripheral tone and very rare in this high
grade. At least as good as the Colin Cooke Collection specimen.
NGC graded Proof 61. WINGS APPROVED.
Estimate Value ................................................ $1,400 - 1,600
* Peck writes (page 168 of his work) ' Considered as a whole,
William III' s copper is of poorer quality than the 1694 issue of
William and Mary, but as the proof pieces clearly show, this was
not because of any falling-off in the quality of the punches or
designs; it was the method of production that was at fault, and
most of the blame for this must rest squarely on the contractors
who seem to have used every possible means of increasing
their profits by employing cheap processes and slipshod work-
men. They got their working dies made at low rates by the out-
of-work moneyers at the Mint, who then struck the blanks as
their agents instead of as principals, and despite the stipulation
in the contract that the blanks should be rolled and cut, they
had most of the coins struck on cast blanks, which explains
their frequently pitted surfaces and poor definition.'
In contrast to the poor quality of the currency coinage, the
standard of production of this silver pattern or proof farthing is
outstanding.