Great Britain 1691 5 guineas Fr-300
This specimen was lot 30225 in Heritage sale 3097 (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $55,200. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Charmingly Toned High-Grade Elephant & Castle 5 Guineas, Great Britain: William & Mary gold "Elephant & Castle" 5 Guineas 1691 AU55 NGC. TERTIO edge. A classic hallmarked English 5 Guineas coined from gold specie imported from Guinea, preserved in a very seldom-seen condition indeed for the type. Tied with just two other AU55-graded specimens as the nicest we have offered (one in 2007 and the other in 2013), a quick survey of the certified population reveals that this is very near to the top of the census, with just one AU58 and MS61 ranking higher. Likely bound in its designation by a few grazes to William and Mary's joint busts, the offering does display a notable visual characteristic strongly coveted for 5 Guinea pieces--a captivating rosaceous surface tone. Whereas most survivors, both in similar and finer grades, can regularly be found with even honey-gold surfaces, there is something to be said about the addition of the color seen here that truly makes it "pop." Rose-gold color silhouettes every relief of the design, beautifully complimenting the coin's residual luster and adding a singular level of eye appeal. From the Long Island Collection."
This expensive type, struck 1691-94, also comes without an elephant privy mark under the busts, indicating African gold (see Fr-299).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 41.75 g, .917 fine gold, 1.23 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-300, KM 479.2, S-3423, Schneider-461.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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, NYINC World Coins Platinum Night Auction 3097, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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