Anne, born on February 6, 1665, to James, Duke of York (later King James II of England) and his first wife, Anne Hyde.
As a young princess, Anne grew up in a world of royal courts, political intrigues, and great expectations, though no one yet knew she would one day rule over both England and Scotland.
Anne wasn’t expected to become queen at first. Her father’s rule became controversial due to his Catholic faith, and he was eventually overthrown during the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
In his place, Anne’s sister Mary II and her husband William III became the co-monarchs. Despite tensions with William, Anne remained in line to the throne.
When both William and Mary died without surviving children, Anne became queen in 1702.
By then, she had suffered many personal losses—17 pregnancies, but none of her children lived to adulthood.
Her health was poor, and she often relied on close advisors and friends, like Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough, though their friendship would later fall apart.
As queen, Anne presided over a crucial moment in British history: the Act of Union in 1707, which united England and Scotland into the single kingdom of Great Britain.
She became the first monarch to rule this new country.
Her reign also included the War of the Spanish Succession, a conflict across Europe over who should control Spain.
The British military, led by the Duke of Marlborough (Sarah’s husband), had major victories, and Britain’s power and influence grew.
Despite her personal struggles and declining health, Queen Anne was known for her commitment to the Church of England and her strong sense of duty.
After a 12-year reign, she died on August 1, 1714, at the age of 49.
Because none of her children had survived, the throne passed to her distant cousin George I of the House of Hanover, beginning a new royal dynasty.
And so, Queen Anne’s death marked not only the end of her life but also the end of the Stuart dynasty.
Yet her legacy lived on in the formation of modern Britain—a country she helped to shape forever.
Queen Anne’s coinage was minted in gold, silver, and copper:
Gold Coins:
– Guineas (worth 21 shillings): 5-, 2-, 1-, and ½-guineas.
Gold coins feature Anne’s bust and Latin inscriptions. Reverse designs included the royal shield with emblems of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland.
Silver Coins:
– Crown (5 shillings)
– Halfcrown (2s 6d)
– Shilling (12d)
– Sixpence (6d)
Notable for high quality and beautiful engraving. 1703 “VIGO” coins were struck from silver captured from Spanish treasure ships in Vigo Bay—a major propaganda victory.
Copper Coins:
– Farthing
– Halfpenny
These were in relatively limited supply and often overstruck due to shortages.
Below you will find some of them:
Great Britain Anne, 1709 Gold Guinea, MS 63+ TOP OF THE POP
39,765.00 US$
Material: Gold
Post-Union with Scotland (1707-14).
Obverse: Second diademed and draped bust facing left, with Latin legend and toothed border around the rim surrounding: ANNA.DEI. GRATIA.
Reverse: Post-Union crowned cruciform shields with sceptres in angles, garter star at centre, date (1709) either side of top crown, with Latin legend surrounding: .MAG BRI. FR ET. HIB REG.
Catalog: S.3572; Schneider II, No example.
Diameter: 25 mm – Weight: 8.3 grams.
Practically as struck, with gloriously brilliant fields, a most captivating and rare survivor.
NGC Certification number: 8220247-003.
*Currently Top of The Population, with none graded higher by either NGC or PCGS.
Great Britain 1713/1 Anne Gold Half Guinea (3 over 1 in date) NGC AU-58
11,500.00 US$
Weight: 4.17 g.
An exceptional example with the clear overdate, lustrous prooflike fields with a hint of red toning. Rare.
Catalog: MCE 234; EGC 493 [R]; Spink 3575
Great Britain 1705 Anne Silver Crown QVINTO edge KEY DATE!! EXTREMELY RARE!! AU
7,500.00 US$
QVINTO edge, plumes in angles. A remarkable crown of this key date rarity with a balanced steel patina gracing the surfaces and carrying striking undertones of blue iridescence over features that remain crisp and sharply contoured.
Catalog: KM519.2, Dav-1339, S-3577, ESC-1341 (prev. ESC-100)
United Kingdom 1707 Halfcrown Anne NGC MS62
5,140.00 US$
NGC Certification number: 6134525-008
Mint Mark: G.BRITAIN
Year: 1707
Queen Anne 1707 Halfcrown, Post Union With Scotland 1707-14 Dr bust, Plain angles, Edge SEPTIMO Graded by NGC MS62 – Uncirculated 62 Stunning coin very difficult to obtain in Mint State grade and very rare as such Spink 3604 books at £2100 in EF this coin is UNC and you will hard pushed to find a better example Only 5 graded higher at NGC all of them MS63 just 1 grade better Code G-88
Great Britain 1 Shilling 1708, NGC MS62, Queen Anne
1,365.00 US$
Krause number: KM# 523
Currency Pound sterling (pre-decimal)
Weight 6 g. – Diameter 26 mm
Composition Silver 0.925
Edge type Reeded
Shape Round
Alignment Coin (180°)
Mintage Unknown
Great Britain 6 Pence 1705 NGC AU58
1,165.00 US$
Certification number: 6883478-047
Mint Mark: ENGLAND
Variety: BULL-1448 ESC-1584 PLUMES ANNE
AJ607, Great Britain, Anne, 6 Pence 1705, London Mint, Bull-1448, Esc-1584 Plumes, Silver, NGC AU58, Undergraded!
GREAT BRITAIN Maundy Set 1710 Anne GVF/AEF
730.00 US$
Catalog: Spink 3599; Bull ESC 1478; KM# MDS39
Material: Silver
Weights: 0.49 g, 1 g, 1.5 g & 2.08 g
Diameters: 12.2 mm, 15.1 mm, 17.7 mm & 18.7 mm
Mint: Tower
Rarity: R1
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