Great Britain 1796 1/2 guinea
This specimen was lot 31148 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "George III gold 1/2 Guinea 1796 MS63 NGC. The highest grade level for this type, tied with two others at NGC and not matched by any at PCGS. Aglow with brilliant cartwheel luster with a splendid portrait of George, minor contact marks in the field in line with the grade but otherwise pristine and appealing." This type was struck 1787-1800, presumably to pay soldiers and sailors during the Napoleonic Wars. Domestically, Great Britain operated on paper Bank of England notes; the gold standard would not be resumed until after Waterloo. Silver coinage had nearly completely ceased. The reform of 1817 terminated all guinea-denominated issues in favor of the sovereign. As the guinea was 21 shillings, this coin would have been ten shillings, six pence.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.18 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM 608, S-3735.
- 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
- 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.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, featuring the Lake County Collection of British coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
Link to:
- 1795 half guinea
- Glamorganshire 1796 1/2 penny token D&H-4 Swansea Castle
- Gloucestershire 1796 half penny token D&H-25, Badminton, "CORN IMPORTED BY GOVERNMENT"
- Hampshire 1796 half penny token D&H-79, Portsea
- Herefordshire 1796 penny token D&H-2
- Middlesex 1796 half penny token D&H-344 Spence’s
- Middlesex 1796 farthing token D&H-1123a, Skidmore's
- Middlesex 1796 half penny token D&H-299 Denton's
- Middlesex 1796 half penny token D&H-751
- Norfolk 1796 half penny token D&H-53, Yarmouth, Boulter's Exhibition
- 1796 guinea
- 1797 penny
- 1797 tuppence
- 1797 third guinea
- 1797 half guinea
- 1797 half guinea
- return to coins of Great Britain
- Coins and currency dated 1796