Photo Credit: Y.P.B. WORLD COINS AND PAPER MONEY
1708 Queen Anne British Silver Crown
Buy It Now Price: $375 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This classic British silver crown coin struck at the Edinburgh mint in 1708 features a portrait of Queen Anne on its obverse and the Royal Coat of Arms on its reverse.
-The coin is composed of 28.3 grams (0.91 troy ounces) of 92.5% sterling silver, giving it a fine silver content of 26.2 grams (0.84 troy ounces). Its impressive diameter of 38.6 mm (1.52 inches) makes it slightly larger than a U.S. silver dollar.
-In pre-decimal Great Britain, 240 pence = 20 shillings = 1 pound. Therefore, the silver crown – with a value of 5 shillings – equaled a quarter of a pound. This was a substantial sum of money in 18th century England and Scotland. As a point of reference, it might cost a single crown to rent a nice house for a week or to hire the services of a maid for two weeks.
-The majestic crown is surely one of the most iconic coins of Great Britain. First issued in the mid 16th century during the Tudor dynasty, the crown was struck in both gold and silver during its early years. The gold crown was last minted in 1636 during the rule of the doomed Charles I. This left the massive silver version as the sole 5 shilling denomination right up until decimalization in 1971.
-Queen Anne of the House of Stuart ascended the throne in 1707 and ruled until her death in 1714. Although she began her rule as the monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland, Anne technically became the first sovereign of Great Britain after the Acts of Union was passed in 1707.
-The weight and fineness of the British silver crown remained unchanged for over 300 years, from the reign of James I (1603 to 1625) right through the rule of Edward VII (1901 to 1910). This is a remarkable record of longevity in a world where currency debasement is the norm.
-I believe this Queen Anne crown probably grades around VF (Very Fine condition). In addition, it has a wonderful old patina that has not been disturbed in many decades.
-Early British coinage is a favorite among knowledgeable coin collectors and it is easy to see why. This old British silver crown captures the grandeur of early 18th century England and Scotland quite nicely.
-With a buy-it-now price of only $375, I think this 1708 Queen Anne silver crown would make an excellent investment for the numismatically inclined. Early (pre-Victoria) British silver crowns are rather scarce these days, especially problem-free examples in good condition. So finding a pleasing 300 year old specimen in VF condition for less than $400 is quite a bargain.
Cons:
-This 1708 British silver crown has a weakly struck reverse between the 4:30 and 6:00 positions. However, weak strikes were quite common during the era and it is not too severe. Therefore, I believe it only has a modest impact on the value of the piece.
-The coin does have some evidence of adjustment marks on the obverse. Before modern production methods were perfected, each coin blank was individually weighed to ensure it was within the proper specifications. Slightly overweight coins were filed down to the proper weight before being struck, giving rise to adjustment marks. Because they are considered part of the original striking process by collectors, adjustment marks only negatively affect the value of a coin if they are extremely noticeable.
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