Five Guineas: William & Mary (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.201)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1691
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. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.201: Five Guineas: William & Mary (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse), 1691. England, William and Mary, 1688-1694. Gold; diameter: 3.6 cm (1 7/16 in.). Inscribed: GVLIELMVS. ET. MARIA. DEI. GRATIA. (William and Mary by the Grace of God); MAG·BR·FR·ET·HIB·REX·ET·REGINA (King and Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland); DECS ET TUTAMEN. Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The shield of arms includes Ireland, represented by a harp, and Scotland, represented by a lion.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 3.6 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 3.6 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold
Design
- Inscriptions
- GVLIELMVS. ET. MARIA. DEI. GRATIA. (William and Mary by the Grace of God); MAG·BR·FR·ET·HIB·REX·ET·REGINA (King and Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland); DECS ET TUTAMEN
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1691
- Culture period
- England, William and Mary, 1688-1694
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.201
- Published references
- 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. 60
- Museum classification
- Coins
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider coin type and standard catalogue references against numismatic literature.