Gold Five Guineas Coin
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The Gold Five Guineas is the largest denomination British Coin ever produced in the pre-decimal era.
As a denomination it was issued from 1668 through 49 different dates until the final pattern piece of 1777.
William came to an unfortunate end when he was killed
from complications arising from a riding accident on Constitution Hill
near where Buckingham Palace is situated today. Purportedly his horse
tripped on a mole hill, unseating his Majesty.
A modern study in 2005 of Five Guineas only tracked 62 specimens of this date traded in commerce over a forty year period.
The coin above struck in 22 carat gold in the final year of the 17th Century under King William III, whose Queen and Consort Mary had died in 1694.
William III (1694-1702), gold Five Guineas, dated 1699.
First laureate type head right, no obverse punctuation in the Latin
legend, gvlielmvs iii dei gra reverse, crowned cruciform shields of
arms, sceptres in angles, Lion of Nassau at centre, date either side of
top crown, abbreviated Latin legend mag br. fra. et hib rex. Legend
translates as William III, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain,
France and Ireland.
Edge inscribed in Latin in raised letters, decvs et
tvtamen anno regni undecimo. The letter V's are in fact inverted letter
A's, translates as "An Ornament and a Safeguard in the Eleventh Year of
His Reign". Diameter approximately 38mm, weight 41.59gms. Light
adjustment marks at tip of truncation, toned good very fine, a scarce
issue, the lack of obverse punctuation and the use of inverted A's on
edge very unusual.
