Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 2 24 Sep 2019
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James II (1685-88), gold Five Guineas, 1688, second laureate head left, legend and toothed border surrounding, IACOBVS. II. DEI. GRATIA, rev. crowned cruciform shields, sceptres in angles, date either side of top crown, legend and toothed border surrounding, .MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB REX., edge, inscribed in raised letters, +.DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN. ANNO. REGNI. QVARTO.+., weight 41.51g (MCE 119; S.3397A). A number of surface marks and nicks both sides, toned good fine, we note this date is not present in the Schneider Collection.
"The Rarity of Five Guinea Pieces – An Analysis" appeared in the preface of the Samuel King Collection of Highly Important English Gold Coins sold at Spink on 5th May 2005 co-written by the present cataloguer. The analysis showed that over a 45-year period preceding 2005, since 1960 that 126 examples of the Five Guineas dated 1688 plain below bust had been bought or sold in numismatic commerce, which put it in a very close 2nd place after the date 1687 for most frequently traded of James II. This demonstrates a lower survival rate for 1688 than 1687 when the figures of gold output are compared with the King Analysis for the reign of James II. £561,309 worth of gold for calendar year 1688 compared to £401,301 of gold in 1687, though of course we do not know how the output would be broken down between the gold denominations nor how long a date on a coin die would have lasted into a following calendar year. At this time the Guinea was officially a Five Pound Piece.
Provenance:
Ex A. H. Baldwin, Auction 40, 3rd May 2005, lot 260.
"The Rarity of Five Guinea Pieces – An Analysis" appeared in the preface of the Samuel King Collection of Highly Important English Gold Coins sold at Spink on 5th May 2005 co-written by the present cataloguer. The analysis showed that over a 45-year period preceding 2005, since 1960 that 126 examples of the Five Guineas dated 1688 plain below bust had been bought or sold in numismatic commerce, which put it in a very close 2nd place after the date 1687 for most frequently traded of James II. This demonstrates a lower survival rate for 1688 than 1687 when the figures of gold output are compared with the King Analysis for the reign of James II. £561,309 worth of gold for calendar year 1688 compared to £401,301 of gold in 1687, though of course we do not know how the output would be broken down between the gold denominations nor how long a date on a coin die would have lasted into a following calendar year. At this time the Guinea was officially a Five Pound Piece.
Provenance:
Ex A. H. Baldwin, Auction 40, 3rd May 2005, lot 260.