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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;PaddyB, post: 1544906, member: 40017&quot;]<b>1702 Vigo British Shilling</b></p><p><br /></p><p>In October 1702 the British Navy in association with the Dutch attacked a Spanish Silver treasure fleet, defended by the French, in the Bay of Vigo. It was a huge success for the allies and the entire Spanish and French force was either captured or sunk.</p><p>Popular tradition is that the silver coinage minted in Britain in 1702 and 1703 with Vigo below the bust of Queen Anne was made from the captured Silver, but contemporary records by Sir Isaac Newton (who was Master of the Mint at the time) suggest that insufficient Silver was actually handed in to make this viable, so it is more likely the Vigo name was added in celebration only. See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vigo_Bay" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vigo_Bay" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vigo_Bay</a> for a full history.</p><p>Still a lovely story![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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