1708 Queen Anne Half Crown with William III Type 1 in Date

[Ron]

I just bought this coin and when I received it, I noticed that it had a William III type '1' in the date as opposed to a 'J'. It is the Edinburgh variety (Spink: 3605). In fact the picture in Spink clearly shows a 'J' not a 'Z' shaped 1.

As far as I can see, all Queen Anne coins used 'J's and William III coins seem to have changed to 'J's around the year 1700.

Are there different varieties of 1708 E half crowns, or is this an error? I can't find any reference to this variety anywhere.

[Rob]

I just bought this coin and when I received it, I noticed that it had a William III type '1' in the date as opposed to a 'J'. It is the Edinburgh variety (Spink: 3605). In fact the picture in Spink clearly shows a 'J' not a 'Z' shaped 1.

As far as I can see, all Queen Anne coins used 'J's and William III coins seem to have changed to 'J's around the year 1700.

Are there different varieties of 1708 E half crowns, or is this an error? I can't find any reference to this variety anywhere.

First of all. Spink's pictures this year have many errors, though this is not one of them.

You need to refer to ESC (English Silver Coinage since 1649) by P A Rayner. The footnote at the bottom of page 73 reads as follows. On Edinburgh halfcrowns of 1707 the figure 1 is always a J as on all coins of the London mint. Edinburgh coins of 1708 usually have a local reverse die with a Z type fig. 1. Rarely however one sees a Tower die with a J type figure 1 on coins of 1708.