Description

William III. and Mary II. 1689-1694. Silver Medal 1689, 10.81 g. Counter. Coronation of William III and Mary II. Unsigned. Crowned shield of arms with lion of Nassau added 'in pretence', resting on mantle, cherub supporters with medallions marked W and M. Rv. A cross of four crowned WM monograms, central rose and floral device in angles. Plain edge. 30.8 mm. Eimer -. MI i 696/96. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Herrliche Patina / Beautiful toning. Kleines Zainende / Minor edge clip.

Purchased from S & B, Great Missenden, January 1996, lot M4.

William III and Mary II were crowned together at Westminster Abbey on 11 April 1689 by the Bishop of London, Henry Compton. Normally, the coronation is performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but the Archbishop at the time, William Sancroft, refused to recognise James's removal.

The joint rule of William III of Orange (1650 - 1702), the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic and the grandson of Charles I of England, and Mary II (1662 - 1694), the daughter of James II of England and his first wife, Anne Hyde, established constitutional monarchy and laid the foundation for modern parliamentary democracy.

A counter struck probably soon after the coronation or to commemorate the accession of William and Mary.