Great Britain 1777 2 guineas
This specimen was lot 31202 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $168,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Great Britain. George III gold Proof Pattern 2 Guineas 1777 PR63 Cameo NGC. Plain edge. By or after Richard Yeo. A commanding rarity, this gold pattern 2 Guineas contains all the hallmarks of a superior offering--from near-flawless, luminescent surfaces to soaring raised elements that are sheathed in satin perfection. The whole of the planchet is consumed in flash, with the presence of uniform die-polish lines in the fields and relatively few post-strike instances noted for the designated grade. The central images are exquisite, with crisp-edged detail creating a chiaroscuro effect throughout the King's coiffure, highlighting the attractive contrast between the reflective mirrors and frosted designs. Representing the final date in this somewhat enigmatic pattern series, despite several attempts clearly having been made to produce larger gold pieces for circulation, no standard issue multiple guineas were struck during George's reign. This was likely due to the severe overvaluation of gold in 18th-century Britain, with the consequence that gold coinage--usually only a metal seen by the well-to-do--remained as the sole medium in use domestically while copper and silver were sold abroad.
Noted by Wilson and Rasmussen as R5 (6-10 known), this date only very rarely comes to auction, and seldom in a finer technical state of preservation, with the present offering being the sole of just 3 NGC-certified examples to have received a cameo designation. Furthermore quite clearly surpassing the Herman Selig specimen in terms of overall quality, with that collection's aim for peak quality specimens definitively revealed by a quick glance through the pages English Pattern, Trial and Proof Coins in Gold, where its contents constitute no fewer than 50 of the plated coins for the reign of George III, and of great note as such. For the high-level connoisseur of 18th century British gold patterns to say the least, this offering will undoubtedly excite.
Ex. James Perley Storer Collection (Spink-Christie's Auction 111, November 1995, Lot 219); Douglas-Morris Collection (Sotheby's November 1974, Lot 129); Vivien Hewitt Collection (purchased by Spink in 1967); Whetmore Collection (Glendining March 1943, Lot 27); Hamilton-Smith Collection (Glendining May 1927, Lot 153); H. Gaskell Collection (Glendining April 1921, Lot 217); G.W. Egmont Beiber Collection (Sotheby's May 1889, Lot 411); J. Halliburton Young Collection (Sotheby's April 1881, Lot 446). From the Penn Collection."
This type never got past the pattern stage. In fact, no two guineas were struck for circulation after 1753, in the reign of George II.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 16.70 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM-Pn56, S-3724A, W&R-81 (R5; this coin).
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Auction 3089: NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas, featuring the Cape Coral Collection of European Crowns and the Penn Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2020.
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