My World Crown Affair
18th Cent, British crown

Owner Comments:

British Crown of George II. Unlike the 'VIGO' issues, the 'LIMA' coins were actually minted from captured silver. However, current research refutes the notion that these were minted from silver captured by Admiral Lord George Anson (1697-1762) during his circumnavigation of 1740-44.

Quote:
During the War of the Austrian Succession, Great Britain was the ally of Maria Theresa of Austria, and fought its two greatest maritime rivals, France and Spain. In July 1745, Captains James Talbot and John Morecock, commanding two privateers in the North Atlantic, the Prince Frederick and the Duke, captured two French treasure ships returning from Callao, the port of Lima. Their haul was £800,000 in silver coins and ingots, plus gold and other goods. When they landed at Bristol in October it took 45 wagons to transport the coin and bullion (which weighed over 78 tons) to the Tower Mint. There the silver was used in the production of the so-called 'Lima' coinage of 1746. It was requested that the word 'Lima' be used on the coins to celebrate the exploit.

-from the British Museum (www.britishmuseum.org)