Within a toothed border, the reverse design features a cruciform of four crowned shields forming a cross around the four intertwined letters C. The shields bear the arms of England (top): three lions "passant guardant", Scotland (right): a rampant lion, France (below): three fleurs-de-lis, and Ireland (left): a harp.
In the angles are four sceptres dividing the shields, surmounted respectively by an orb with cross (for England), thistle (for Scotland), fleur-de-lis (for France), and harp (for Ireland).
Around above, divided by the crown on the top English shield, the date of issue 1679.
Around the rim, interrupted by the crowns, the continuation of the monarch's legend: · MAG · BR · FRA · ET · HIB · REX ·. This is abbreviated from "Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae Rex" and means "of Great Britain, France and Ireland King". The mention of France, and the inclusion of the French shield in the design, reflect the king's claim to the throne of France - which he did not actually rule.
As was normal for the time, the denomination of the coin is not inscribed anywhere. |