Munt van een halve shilling van Anna, koningin van Engeland, munt geslagen van het in de zeeslag bij Vigo veroverde zilver

About this artwork

diameter 2.1 cm x weight 31 gr

Art Historical Context

Behold this remarkable half-shilling coin from 1703, struck during the reign of Queen Anne of England (r. 1702–1714). Minted anonymously by skilled metalworkers, it measures just 2.1 cm in diameter and weighs 31, a testament to the precision of early 18th-century numismatics. As a product of the striking technique—where a metal blank is hammered between engraved dies—this small silver disc bears the royal imagery of the era, symbolizing authority and economic stability. What elevates this coin's historical significance is its origin: it was crafted from silver seized in the dramatic Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Anglo-Dutch forces captured a vast Spanish treasure fleet laden with New World silver, a haul worth millions. Recasting this war booty into currency was a clever propaganda move, linking Queen Anne's rule to military triumph and imperial wealth. Such coins circulated as everyday money while commemorating naval glory. For visitors, this unassuming artifact offers a tangible link to global trade, warfare, and monarchy. Its modest size belies a story of adventure on the high seas and the alchemy of turning plunder into prosperity—perfect for pondering how history hides in our pockets.

About the Artist

anonymous

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...