Great Britain 1808 1/3 guinea
This specimen was lot 30814 in Heritage sale 3035 (Long Beach, September 2014), where it sold for $910.63. The catalog description[1] noted, "George III gold 1/3 Guinea 1808 MS63 PCGS. A touch of yellow-gold tone enhances the look of this outstanding Select representative that boasts a strong strike and unimprovable luster. Very scarce this nice and conditionally rare any finer. From The Law Collection." This type was struck 1804-13, 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. 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 seven shillings.
Recorded mintage: unknown but not rare.
Specification: 2.78 g, 0.917 fine gold, .082 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: S-3740; Fr-367; KM-650.
- 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, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, and Warren Tucker, Heritage Signature Auction 3035, World and Ancient Coins, featuring the FoxLair Collection and the Law Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
Link to:
- 1806 third guinea
- 1809 half guinea
- 1809 third guinea
- Coins and currency dated 1808
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