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Anne
1702-1714
Anne was an amiable and
dutiful Queen who presided over government without getting too involved in the
disputes between the Whigs and the Tories.
Most of the principal
events of her reign are connected to the war of the Spanish Succession. The
eighteenth century began with a series of events in Europe making war
inevitable as it was essential for England to have an Austrian Prince, rather
than French, to ascend the Spanish Throne. The Commander of the English Army,
The Duke of Marlborough was arguably the best soldier ever produced by England
and he soon routed a combined French and Bavarian army at Blenheim. Two years
later he drove the French from the Netherlands following the victory at
Ramillies. Instead of negotiating a treaty with France however England
negotiated an Act of Union with Scotland, and in May 1707 the two parliaments
were finally united. The United Kingdom came to be called Great Britain and had
as it's symbolic flag the Union Jack.
Queen Anne suffered poor
health mainly due to her obesity and, being defeated over her wishes to secure
her Brother James the right to succeed her to the Throne, she feel into a state
of weakness and died shortly afterwards. She was the last of the Stuart
Monarchs.
Coinage of the Reign
The Act of Union of 1707
resulted in a change in the Royal Arms, altering the design of the coinage. On
the post-union coinage the English lion and Scottish lion are emblazoned per
pale on the top and bottom shields. The rose in the centre of the reverse of
the gold coins is replaced by The Garter Star.
Bullion seized in Vigo Bay
during a successful Anglo-Dutch expedition against Spain was minted into coin,
the word VIGO placed beneath the Queen's bust to identify it.
Gold Issues: Five Guineas,
Two Guineas, Guinea and Half Guinea.
Silver Issues: Crown,
Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence and Penny.
Copper Issues: Farthing.
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