Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 2 24 Sep 2019
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George II (1727-60), gold Five Guineas, 1741, the 4 struck over a 3 in date, young laureate head left, GEORGIVS.II. DEI.GRATIA., rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, date either side of crown, 11 strings to Irish harp, M.B.F. ET. H. REX. F.D. B.ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T ET. E., edge inscribed in raised letter and dated of upright orientation to obverse, DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN ANNO. REGNI. DECIMO. QVARTO, weight 41.87g (Schneider 563 obv.7 / rev.7; MCE 284; S.3663A). Lightly toned, some light hairlines both sides with digs and small surface marks on and around bust, dig at end of obverse legend, some light rim nicks, otherwise good very fine.
According to "The Rarity of Five Guinea Pieces – An Analysis" which appeared in the preface of the Samuel King Collection of Highly Important English Gold, a survey of 45 years of dealer sales lists and auction catalogues from 1960-2005, a total of 107 examples of this date of Five Guinea were traced in commerce which is the second highest figure across the 8 possible dates of the reign. Herbert Schneider also analysed the gold Five Guinea and Two Guinea coins of George II in his Spink Numismatic Circular article "The Five Guinea and Two Guinea Pieces of George II" in February 1957, but gives the 11 string harp reverse as the non-overdate when the 4 of this coin is clearly over a 3. The output of gold for the calendar year of 1741 was quite low at £25,232 worth, about ten times less than normal and there was no output of any gold or silver in 1742. As surviving examples number relatively high perhaps this means that 1741 dated coins were being prepared during 1740 as the output that year was £196,245.
Provenance:
Ex Numisor, Switzerland, 21st October 2016, lot 249.
Ex Baldwin of St James, Auction 16, 17th April 2018, lot 314.
Ex London Coins, Auction 161, 2nd June 2018, lot 1527.
Ex London Coins, Auction 164, 2nd March 2019, lot 969.
According to "The Rarity of Five Guinea Pieces – An Analysis" which appeared in the preface of the Samuel King Collection of Highly Important English Gold, a survey of 45 years of dealer sales lists and auction catalogues from 1960-2005, a total of 107 examples of this date of Five Guinea were traced in commerce which is the second highest figure across the 8 possible dates of the reign. Herbert Schneider also analysed the gold Five Guinea and Two Guinea coins of George II in his Spink Numismatic Circular article "The Five Guinea and Two Guinea Pieces of George II" in February 1957, but gives the 11 string harp reverse as the non-overdate when the 4 of this coin is clearly over a 3. The output of gold for the calendar year of 1741 was quite low at £25,232 worth, about ten times less than normal and there was no output of any gold or silver in 1742. As surviving examples number relatively high perhaps this means that 1741 dated coins were being prepared during 1740 as the output that year was £196,245.
Provenance:
Ex Numisor, Switzerland, 21st October 2016, lot 249.
Ex Baldwin of St James, Auction 16, 17th April 2018, lot 314.
Ex London Coins, Auction 161, 2nd June 2018, lot 1527.
Ex London Coins, Auction 164, 2nd March 2019, lot 969.