Five Guineas: William III (obverse); Four Shields and Lion of Nassau (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.202)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1701
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. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.202: Five Guineas: William III (obverse); Four Shields and Lion of Nassau (reverse), 1701. England, William III, 1694-1702. Gold; diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.). Inscribed: GVLIELMVS . III . DEI . GRA. (William the third by the grace of God); MAG BR∙ FRA ET∙ HIB REX∙ 1701 (King of Great Britain, France and Ireland 1701); DECUS ET TUTAMEN (an ornament and a safeguard in the thirteenth year of the reign). 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
Of the coinage minted by William III, this type is considered the finest because of the profusion of detail.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold
Design
- Inscriptions
- GVLIELMVS . III . DEI . GRA. (William the third by the grace of God); MAG BR∙ FRA ET∙ HIB REX∙ 1701 (King of Great Britain, France and Ireland 1701); DECUS ET TUTAMEN (an ornament and a safeguard in the thirteenth year of the reign)
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1701
- Culture period
- England, William III, 1694-1702
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.202
- 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. 61
- 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.