In most respects this shilling (along with 6 pence, ½ crowns, and crowns of the same year and also of 1746) is identical to issues from the surrounding time frame. The difference is the appearance of the word LIMA inscribed below the bust of King George II. The origin of the silver booty leading to the placement of LIMA on the coins is a matter of controversy, but I think it can be safely concluded that its intent was to propagandize the superiority of the English over enemy naval forces on the high seas. Great Britain 1 shilling, 1745 23.5mm diameter, 6.01g (0.925 fine Ag) Ever since the defeat of the Spanish armada at the hands of the English (and their weather) in 1588, Great Britain had begun to show itself a master of naval power. In times of peace with Spain, English privateers (basically ‘authorized’ pirates) were given tacit approval to raid Spanish ports and treasure galleons laden with gold and silver coin and bullion on its way from the New World to Spain or the Orient. In times of war, the matter was simplified, as all enemy vessels were a target for plunder by any English fleet that could be scrapped together. Such wartime conditions existed in the early 1740’s, as Great Britain was allied with Austria against both France and Spain during the War of the Austrian Succession. There are two parties that are credited with bringing about the English LIMA-marked coinage; a mission of two privateering vessels by the name of Prince Frederick and Duke, and a fleet under the command of Lord Anson. The Lord Anson fleet makes a good story so I will relate it here, but also will mention the other privateering mission. The coins could easily have been struck from the silver from both hauls. In 1740, the English, emboldened by some successes against the Spanish in the New World, requested a fleet be brought together and disrupt Spanish commercial interests in the Pacific. Lord Anson was put in charge of the Centurion, a 60 gun ship, along with seven other smaller ships to comprise the fleet. The usual press gangs helped recruit unwilling sailors, and a visit to the prisons topped off the crew quota. Preparation of the fleet took so long that the Spanish found out and outfitted their own fleet to intercept and destroy the effort. However, the timing was off and Lord Anson managed to get his fleet around Cape Horn before the Spanish met them. The Spanish were forced back due to inclement weather so characteristic of the Horn, and Lord Anson’s fleet nearly suffered complete annihilation during the crossing. It took them considerable time to limp up the Chilean coast and find safe harbor in the island group of Juan Fernandez. So long, in fact, that the Spanish fleet in Chile which was meant to do the job the previous Spanish fleet had failed to do had given up waiting and had disbanded. Once the English had recovered and they moved north (minus the over 50% of the men who died as a result of the Cape Horn crossing), things began looking up. Several merchant ships with goods and treasure were captured, and the ships were used to supplement the English fleet (some of the original English vessels were abandoned due to their state of disrepair). Various ships and ports along the coast were plundered all the way up the western edge of South America. Ironically, Lima, or more specifically the port area of El Callao, was not attacked. Lord Anson’s intent was to plunder the Spanish treasure fleet that made the annual run from Acapulco to Manila. The English obtained enough information to gauge the schedule of the treasure fleet and knew that the ship was departing in a month’s time. Since Acapulco was well fortified, they made their way across the Pacific to China and lay in wait near Manila. The Spanish vessel, Nuestra Signora de Cabadonga, showed up a month later and though the Spanish had been informed of the trap and were ready to fight, the English prevailed in the ensuing battle. This last plunder was substantial, accounts indicate that treasure, mostly Spanish 8 reales coins, took two weeks to transfer to Lord Anson’s ships (of which only two remained by this time). However, one can imagine that on some days heavy revelry precluded heavy labor. Lord Anson’s fleet then returned to Great Britain via the Cape of Good Hope. From the London Gazette, June 16, 1744: ‘The Cargo which Commodore Anson has brought home with him is as follows, viz. 2,600,000 Pieces of Eight, 150,000 Ounces of Plate, 10 Bars of Gold, and a large Quantity of Gold and Silver Dust; in the whole to the Amount of 1,250,000 l. Sterling.’ The other plundering mission occurred later, but also would have brought the silver back in time to mint the coins in question. In July 1745, Captains James Talbot and John Morecock, commanding two privateering vessels the Prince Frederick and the Duke and operating in the North Atlantic, captured two French treasure ships returning from El Callao (the port sector of Lima). The booty was £800,000 in silver coins and ingots, plus gold and other goods. They landed back in Great Britain in October 1745, and the silver went directly to the Tower Mint, presumably for production of the LIMA-marked coinage.
We could start with those dumping toxic waste off africas coast and stealing the fish. Round up those sushi lovers and string'em up.
Excellent post Acanthite! Very informative, recounting the origing of the famed "LIMA" coinage. As you mention, the British - be they privateers or pirates in the 16th and 17th centuries, or later, the Royal Navy became the bane of the Spanish in their South American colonies. The amount of wealth they plundered from Spanish ports and their fleets helped fuel the wealth and rise to world predominance of Britain. Now If I could figure out how to nominate this post! Eduard
I Second Eduard ......Great Post always love the history that goes with coins! The site must be having problems as I too tryed to nominate...:thumb::thumb:two thumbs up!
Thanks everyone who enjoyed the post. A good companion piece to the above would be a coin with the VIGO mark, after the Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702. I don't have one of those, however.
I'd love to own a VIGO. Not only are they earlier than LIMAs, but they are comparatively even scarcer, and more thrillingly, Sir Isaac Newton was Master of the Royal Mint at that time and personally oversaw the transfer of the captured gold and silver to the mint to be recoined...
