£140
1746 King George II silver 'LIMA' Halfcrown with 'DECIMO NONO' to the edge (Bull 1688, ESC 606, S 3695A). Obverse: older laureate bust of King George II, facing left, wearing armour with the face of a lion on his shoulder, 'LIMA' below. Legend: 'GEORGIUS · II · DEI · GRATIA ·'. Reverse: crowned cruciform shields with the garter star in the centre, plain angles. Legend: 'M · B · F · ET H · REX · F · D · ET · L · D · S · R · I · AT · ET · E · 1746'. Edge: raised lettering that reads 'DECVS · ET · TVTAMEN · ANNO · REGNI · DECIMO · NONO'. Composition: 925 silver. Weight: 14.88g. Diameter: 34mm.Some British coins minted in 1745 and 1746 feature a privy mark in the form of the word 'LIMA' below the bust. This includes Five Guinea, 'full' Guineas, Half Guineas, Crowns, Halfcrowns, Shillings and Sixpences. These King George II coins were struck using gold and silver captured from European treasure ships on the way back from Peru, hence the use of 'LIMA', the Peruvian capital. The capture is often attributed to Admiral George Anson, later 1st Baron Anson with the ships said to be Spanish galleons. However, archival research reveals that the captured ships were French (the Louis Erasmus and the Marquis d'Antin). These vessels were taken by British privateers: government-sanctioned pirates whose prize money was shared between sponsors and crew.The Gentlemen's Magazine reported in September 1745 that the 'privateers waited on the King and offered £700,000 - their share of the prizes - to be immediately employ'd for his majesty's service, which was accepted and the money is to be repaid by Parliament.'. The loot, consisting of Spanish coin and bullion, was then transported to the Royal Mint. The application to place the word 'LIMA' under the royal portrait was made by the Bank of England in December 1745.
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