Cleveland Museum of Art

Five Guineas: William III (obverse); Four Shields and Lion of Nassau (reverse)

Date

1701

Medium

gold

Culture

England, William III, 1694-1702

Department

Medieval Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

There were three types used on the five guinea coin of William III, who continued to reign long after the death of Mary. As hammered coinage was still in circulation along with the mill coins, the government decided to call in all the remaining hammered pieces in 1695, completing the reform of the coinage. This affected mostly the silver coinage. Gold was gradually reduced until the value of the guinea, when set against the silver coinage, was 21 shillings and 6 pence. The guinea finally settled at 21 shillings. Of the coinage minted by William III, this type is considered the finest because of the profusion of detail.

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