Whoever answers this may not only have the golden banana, but 10% of the commission! I have a coin here, looks rather like an old British half-crown. It is dated 1773 (the reign of King George III) but on the back says "Anna Dei Gratia." Can anyone shed any light on what this coin actually is?

Baloo55th

If it looks like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/Annecoin.jpg then you're reading the date wrong. It could be 1713 not 1773. Anna Dei Gratia is the inscription on Queen Anne's coins. She was on the throne 1702 to 1714. There is a possibility of a misdate on the coin but they're rare. Some more pics here: http://www.rojea.arrakis.es/galmoeda.htm There should be more inscription on the other side. If it says Vigo, it's made from captured silver (ah, those were the days...). Jun 23 08, 4:00 PM

JCSon

Curious! What is the condition of the coin? Is it definitely 1773? Do you have an image? It sounds like the Anne AR Half Crown, but those were issued until 1714. Sources: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/SE/SE3605.html http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/SE/i.html Is it possible that the date on this one is actually 1713? Sources for 1713: http://ansmagazine.com/spring06/cabinet.html http://data.numismatics.org/cgi-bin/showobj?accnum=1905.57.418 Jun 23 08, 4:01 PM

Flynn_17

Thankyou thankyou! Well spotted, folks... I'm so embarrassed about reading the date wrong (especially since these have come to me to be graded, don't tell anyone!) Sadly, it doesn't say Vigo, although the excitement of it doing so may have killed me. Jun 23 08, 4:12 PM

Baloo55th

You're welcome, and we won't.... Good for me to keep in practice - I really miss the OTWA board's unidentified objects department. Jun 23 08, 4:19 PM