Bidspirit auction | UK Silver Shilling, William III,

UK Silver Shilling, William III, Chester Mint, 1696 - A UK silver milled shilling issued during the reign of William III, dated 1696. The obverse features the first laureate and draped bust of the King facing right. A small letter C is visible below the truncation of the bust, denoting production at the Chester mint during the Great Recoinage. The surrounding legend reads GVLIELMVS III DEI GRA. The reverse depicts four crowned shields in a cruciform arrangement representing England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with the smaller central shield of the House of Orange-Nassau. The reverse legend reads MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX 1696. This coin was produced as part of the significant re-coining effort to replace hammered currency with milled coinage.