The Copper, Tin, and Broze Coinage of England
H Montagu, F.S.A, , 1893
William III

William III, 1695-1702

After the death of the Queen, which took place on the 28th December, 1694, an alteration in the coinage necessarily took place. Of the current coins halfpennies and farthings of copper alone exist; they are of the usual type.

Halfpenny

1. O. GVLIELMVS. TERTIVS.. The king's bust laureate and in armour to the right; the hair short.
    R. BRITANNIA. Figure of the usual type. Date in exergue. R. 1.

These are very rarely met with in fine condition. The dates 1695, 1696, 1697, 1698, 1699, 1700 and 1701 occur. Some of the halfpennies of 1698 and 1699 have the date in large figures following BRITANNIA in the legend of the reverse instead of in the exergue, in which case that word is divided BRITAN-N-IA instead of the usual BRITAN-NIA. Both the halfpennies and the farthings appear to have been sometimes struck but were usually cast. In 1699 a change in the bust took place, and of that year there are coins with both forms of the bust. At the same time the position of the figure of Britannia was also altered. On some few halfpennies of 1700 there is a break in the word TER-TIVS which is continuous on the others. On some others of 1701 the V's on the obverse are A's upside down, sometimes barred and sometimes not barred, and the A's on the reverse are V's upside down. In my cabinet is a silver proof of the half penny of 1699 with the date in the exergue, and a similar proof in copper is in the collection of Mr. Mackrell. In Hawkin's Sale, 1868 (Lot 70) was a silver proof halfpenny of 1701. In Mr. Hoblyn's Cabinet is a halfpenny composed of two obverses owing, probably, to careless striking.

Farthing

2. O. GVLIELMVS. TERTIVS.. Head as on the halfpenny.
    R. BRITANNIA. Figure as usual. Date in the exergue. R. 1.

These are also very rare in fine condition. The dates 1695, 1696, 1697, 1698, 1699, 1700 and 1701 occur. Some of the farthings also of 1698 and 1699 have the date at the end of the legend instead of in the exergue. Of these last there are silver proofs. I have a proof in silver of 1700 with the date in the exergue. A silver proof bearing the date of 1695 was in the sale of the Rev. Mr. Christmas's Coins (Lot 938) and it is possible that the silver proof of 1697 also exists.