Great Britain 1810 1/2 guinea

Sincona sale 59, lot 1506

This specimen was lot 1506 in Sincona sale 59 (Zürich, October 2019), where it sold for 450 CHF (about US$545 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"GREAT BRITAIN | Königreich, George III. 1760-1820. 1/2 Guinea 1810, London. Vorzüglich. Hübsche Patina. (kingdom of Great Britain, George III, 1760-1820, half guinea of 1810, London mint. Extremely fine, Attractively toned.)"

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 ten shillings, six pence.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 4.17 g, 0.917 fine gold, .123 troy oz AGW, this specimen 4.17 g.

Catalog reference: KM 651, Seaby 3737. Fr-364.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• 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.
• 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.
• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 59: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2019.

Link to:

• 1809 half guinea
• 1810 third guinea
• 1811 half guinea
• Coins and currency dated 1810