St. James's Auctions
Auction 39 30 September 2016
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† George III, guinea, 1761, first laur. head r., three leaves above head, rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3725), about extremely fine, reverse better, this variety very rare
In sharpness, this variety of 1761 guinea is not too different from the example having two leaves at the top of the king's periwig. Its surfaces, also, are excellent for the grade, lacking abuse of any kind. Most of the difference between the two pieces is the degree of lustre. Our comments about the rarity of this date, as given in the accompanying lot, apply equally to this lovely coin, which somehow has unaccountably survived in what is actually a remarkable condition, given the history it experienced. One wonders how many guineas were melted in Philadelphia from the 1790s onward, and the gold therefrom coined into new U.S. gold coins. Such would have been the fate of almost all British gold coins remaining in America after the war concluded. However this coin escaped being melted, it has indeed survived and been cared for. Seldom do both varieties of this date appear even in a single auction season, let alone in one sale. An opportunity for the astute collector! (£6500-7500)
In sharpness, this variety of 1761 guinea is not too different from the example having two leaves at the top of the king's periwig. Its surfaces, also, are excellent for the grade, lacking abuse of any kind. Most of the difference between the two pieces is the degree of lustre. Our comments about the rarity of this date, as given in the accompanying lot, apply equally to this lovely coin, which somehow has unaccountably survived in what is actually a remarkable condition, given the history it experienced. One wonders how many guineas were melted in Philadelphia from the 1790s onward, and the gold therefrom coined into new U.S. gold coins. Such would have been the fate of almost all British gold coins remaining in America after the war concluded. However this coin escaped being melted, it has indeed survived and been cared for. Seldom do both varieties of this date appear even in a single auction season, let alone in one sale. An opportunity for the astute collector! (£6500-7500)