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GREAT BRITAIN, King George II (1727-1760)
AR Shilling (26.08mm, 6.00g, 6h)
Dated 1745. Tower of London mint
Obverse: GEORGIUS · II · DEI · GRATIA ·, laureate, draped, and cuirassed old bust of King George II left; LIMA below
Reverse: ·M·B·F·ET H·REX· F·D·B ET·L·D·S·R·I A·T·ET·E· 17-45 (date), crowned cruciform coats-of-arms of England and France, Scotland, Ireland, and Hanover around rayed central Garter star
References: Numista 13121
Attractive old cabinet toning.
This coin was struck from silver captured from the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de Cavadonga, off the coast of Peru in 1743. The British warship Centurion, commanded by Commodore George Anson, encountered the treasure ship as it left the port of Lima. After an intense, 90-minute battle, the Spanish vessel surrendered. In its hold were more than 1.3 million silver 8-reale coins, plus an additional 35,000 ounces of silver bullion. When Anson brought the plunder back to England, it was decided to use the captured silver for minting coins, each of which was stamped with the word "LIMA" on the obverse to commemorate the great victory.
Collection : World coins - medieval to present