Description
James II (1685-88), Crown, 1687, second laureate and draped bust left, toothed borders both sides, legend surrounding IACOBVS II DEI GRATIA. Rev, crowned cruciform shields, garter star at centre, date flanking top crown, reads MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX. Edge inscription in +DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI. TERTIO, E over R in ET variation (S.3407; Bull.744; ESC 78; var).
Struck on a spacious and broad flan, slate grey toning with mirrored fields and underlying mint brilliance, haymarking both sides. Portrait excellent, thorough and consistent in its details, definition and striations across all portions of King’s hair, breastplate comprehensive. Reverse, prooflike around the periphery, slight flatness to the southern edge of flan, perhaps a collar shift. A rarer variety with the E over R in ET for the edge inscription. Extremely fine, rare.
Crowns throughout the reign of James II, appear to be a straightforward and short series. Three dates available split between two forms of bust, the dies continued to be engraved by Roettier. In the first bust the 1686 Secvndo was issued, with a no stops in the legend variety and an unbarred H in HIB. The second bust covered a 1687 Tertio edge, with the following variants; i) E over R in ET for the edge inscription (as our example demonstrates) and with smaller edge lettering. The 1688 also came in second bust form with a Qvarto edge, also with an overdate for the 8 over 7, frequently seen. It could be argued all are rare in excellent condition, regardless of the aforementioned variations
