Watch List notes:

Five Guineas 1693 Obverse conjoined busts of joint monarchs right. GVLIELMVS ET MARIA DEI GRATIA. Reverse, crowned garnished square topped arms, lion of Nassau in centre. Edge year QVINTO in raised letters on edge, GEF reverse better and crisply struck rare thus, prooflike and brilliant fields a piece with remarkable eye appeal, the bust and reverse design lightly frosted, retaining much mint lustre, must surely be one of the finest known examples of this short series. Earlier this year a William and Mary 5 Guineas in MS63 realised $258,000 and in our opinion this coin would be at least MS62 on the US grading scale. William and Mary were spouses who reigned over the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. They began their joint reign in February 1689 after they were offered the throne by the Convention Parliament. James II (Mary's father) had fled the country and William and Mary occupied what was in effect a vacant throne. They were the first joint rulers in England for over 800 years, although Philip II and Mary I had appeared on English coinage together. Mary was to reign until her death from smallpox in December 1694 and William continued his rule alone, until his death in March 1702. The reign of William and Mary was brief and their coins are relatively scarce.

Estimate: 70000-80000 GBP