Lot 2693

Description

Anne, Queen Anne's Bounty, 1704, in silver (45mm) by John Crocker, Obverse: Laureate bust of the Queen facing left, with lovelocks behind and on the right shoulder. The Queen is wearing an elaborate gown. At the edge of the mantle are the initials I.C. for John Crocker. Reverse: Anne is seated on her throne, presenting a charter to her clergy who are kneeling before her. The legend reads PIETAS AVGVSTAE (`The Piety of the Queen'), (Eimer 404, MI ii, 251-2/43). Toned, extremely fine or better and scarce.

After the Reformation, King Henry VIII had transferred the right to levy certain taxes upon the clergy from the Pope to the crown. Anne determined to give back much of the revenue so derived in the form of a fund established to help the clergy at local levels. This fund is now known by the name `Queen Anne's Bounty'. Although this medal does 'turn up' it is seldom seen in this excellent state of preservation. This piece has a superb deep old green grey tone over almost flawless surfaces.