417, Lot: 595. Estimate $100. Sold for $190. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

HANOVER. George II. 1727-1760. AR Sixpence (21mm, 2.99 g, 6h). LIMA issue. Tower (London) mint. Dated 1746. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left; LIMA below / Crowned cruciform coat-of-arms around rayed Garter star. ESC 1615; SCBC 3710. VF, toned.

In early autumn 1740, Commodore George Anson set out with a squadron of six vessels to harass Spanish possessions in the New World. Among various adventures along the Atlantic and Pacific shores of South America, Anson’s ships captured a quantity of silver and gold bullion bound for Spain. This precious metal was born back to Britain following a dramatic circumnavigation across the Pacific, and was struck into coins bearing the commemorative legend LIMA.