Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3056 3 Aug 2017
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Great Britain
William III gold "Fine Work" 5 Guineas 1701 MS64 NGC, Royal mint, KM508, S-3456, Schneider-480 (variety with plain scepters). 2nd Laureate Bust of "Fine Work," Decimo Tertio edge. Exceptionally choice and in a state of preservation that will excite even the most discerning collector. The obvious focal point--the superbly engraved portrait of the King--is nothing less than exquisite in its soaring, high-relief execution. From there, the blooming fields are set aglow in original luster that carries the eye to the outer register, where the deeply defined legends and beaded rims provide the perfect frame for this specimen. The presence of pin scratches that reside near the legend and extend from the King's name to above his head are likely all that prevent the Gem designation, and two of the beads below the King's long locks are flawed, which will serve as a future identifier. Despite the near-flawless obverse, the reverse may actually be the star of this piece. Cartwheeling luster immediately introduces a level of sophistication, sweeping the surfaces in a golden glow, and purposefully highlighting the impressed images and fresh expanses, all the while proving that this coin has managed to escape any real instances of handling. The whole of this specimen is sheathed in the most glorious, golden hue, and along with its impeccable technical quality and stunning metal texture, has been awarded with the title of the finest-certified example of the type, making it a clear candidate for center-placement in its next cabinet.
Ex. Donald E. Bently Collection
William, Prince of Orange, touched English soil on November 5, 1689, as the Catholic king James II (a convert from Protestantism) fled to France. James' new religious alliance with the church at Rome was cause for national unrest, and potential civil war. Instead, what occurred was the Glorious Revolution, a bloodless affair. On January 28, 1690, Parliament declared to all that the throne had been vacated. What followed was a formal Declaration of Rights giving legal supremacy to Parliament, and acceptance of the terms of accession by the prince. On the death of Queen Mary at the very end of December 1694, William ruled alone for the first time. His silver coinage and small gold commenced in 1695, but the first large gold pieces were minted in 1699. The first 5 Guineas varied greatly on the reverse from the coins issued by him with Mary, essentially reverting to the cruciform style seen on the gold of Charles II. The king's portrait was shallowly engraved. And then Isaac Newton came to the mint in 1696. His scientific mind brought discipline to the book keeping and he attended to the coinage designs as few had before him. At the end of December 1699, Newton succeeded to the post of "master worker" or coining chief at the Royal Mint. Newton had no use for the ageing mint engravers, the Roettiers. He favored a young assistant named James Bull, and then the German engraver of great talent, John Croker. At first, he set to simply re-engraving dies made by Roettiers, producing the famous "Flaming Hair" shillings in 1698-99. The King's portrait seen on those shillings bears an uncanny resemblance to the so-called "Fine Work" busts used on the 5 Guineas and 2 Guineas of 1701. The mint's own records are vague. James Bull may have contributed some effort to the creation of this portrait but the master engraver seems to have been Croker. Similar flourishes of engraving ingenuity are to be found on any number of medals of the period known to have been made by Croker, most of them signed by him. Newton's first indenture, or commission to produce coin, occurred on December 23, 1700. He had taken a particular interest in the fineness of English gold as compared to the French and Spanish gold commonly seen in commerce in England. No record exists specifying that Newton directed Croker to produce the dies used to mint this 5-Guinea coin, of superlative design and gold quality, but the dates of involvement at the mint by both men strongly suggest how this fabulous coin came to be.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 50000-60000 USD
William III gold "Fine Work" 5 Guineas 1701 MS64 NGC, Royal mint, KM508, S-3456, Schneider-480 (variety with plain scepters). 2nd Laureate Bust of "Fine Work," Decimo Tertio edge. Exceptionally choice and in a state of preservation that will excite even the most discerning collector. The obvious focal point--the superbly engraved portrait of the King--is nothing less than exquisite in its soaring, high-relief execution. From there, the blooming fields are set aglow in original luster that carries the eye to the outer register, where the deeply defined legends and beaded rims provide the perfect frame for this specimen. The presence of pin scratches that reside near the legend and extend from the King's name to above his head are likely all that prevent the Gem designation, and two of the beads below the King's long locks are flawed, which will serve as a future identifier. Despite the near-flawless obverse, the reverse may actually be the star of this piece. Cartwheeling luster immediately introduces a level of sophistication, sweeping the surfaces in a golden glow, and purposefully highlighting the impressed images and fresh expanses, all the while proving that this coin has managed to escape any real instances of handling. The whole of this specimen is sheathed in the most glorious, golden hue, and along with its impeccable technical quality and stunning metal texture, has been awarded with the title of the finest-certified example of the type, making it a clear candidate for center-placement in its next cabinet.
Ex. Donald E. Bently Collection
William, Prince of Orange, touched English soil on November 5, 1689, as the Catholic king James II (a convert from Protestantism) fled to France. James' new religious alliance with the church at Rome was cause for national unrest, and potential civil war. Instead, what occurred was the Glorious Revolution, a bloodless affair. On January 28, 1690, Parliament declared to all that the throne had been vacated. What followed was a formal Declaration of Rights giving legal supremacy to Parliament, and acceptance of the terms of accession by the prince. On the death of Queen Mary at the very end of December 1694, William ruled alone for the first time. His silver coinage and small gold commenced in 1695, but the first large gold pieces were minted in 1699. The first 5 Guineas varied greatly on the reverse from the coins issued by him with Mary, essentially reverting to the cruciform style seen on the gold of Charles II. The king's portrait was shallowly engraved. And then Isaac Newton came to the mint in 1696. His scientific mind brought discipline to the book keeping and he attended to the coinage designs as few had before him. At the end of December 1699, Newton succeeded to the post of "master worker" or coining chief at the Royal Mint. Newton had no use for the ageing mint engravers, the Roettiers. He favored a young assistant named James Bull, and then the German engraver of great talent, John Croker. At first, he set to simply re-engraving dies made by Roettiers, producing the famous "Flaming Hair" shillings in 1698-99. The King's portrait seen on those shillings bears an uncanny resemblance to the so-called "Fine Work" busts used on the 5 Guineas and 2 Guineas of 1701. The mint's own records are vague. James Bull may have contributed some effort to the creation of this portrait but the master engraver seems to have been Croker. Similar flourishes of engraving ingenuity are to be found on any number of medals of the period known to have been made by Croker, most of them signed by him. Newton's first indenture, or commission to produce coin, occurred on December 23, 1700. He had taken a particular interest in the fineness of English gold as compared to the French and Spanish gold commonly seen in commerce in England. No record exists specifying that Newton directed Croker to produce the dies used to mint this 5-Guinea coin, of superlative design and gold quality, but the dates of involvement at the mint by both men strongly suggest how this fabulous coin came to be.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 50000-60000 USD