Great Britain
George II gold 5 Guineas 1746-LIMA MS60 NGC, KM586.1, Fr-335, S-3665, Schneider-564. DECIMO NONO edge. An immensely popular hallmarked issue struck from gold seized by Admiral Anson (a prominent Royal Navy officer) in his raids on Spanish treasure ships in Lima, Peru. Very desirable in the present Mint State preservation, and exceptionally attractive for the issue; indeed, the immediate impression is that of a piece in perhaps MS61 or MS62, the surfaces exceptionally lustrous and permeated with an appealing watery reflectivity. Only close inspection reveals the presence of the faint hairlines that would appear to account for the assigned grade.
The hefty weight of gold used to produce this 5 Guineas of George II was part of the £500,000 in specie captured by Admiral Anson (a prominent Royal Navy officer) in his raids on Spanish treasure ships bearing gold and silver mined in Lima, Peru. On their safe return to Portsmouth, Anson was met by a cheering crowd who formed a parade all the way back to London so as to safely deposit the tons of captured Spanish ore at the Royal Mint. To celebrate their victory (and humiliate their enemies), coins made from this treasure were marked 'Lima' beneath the bust of George II, and thus a historic coinage was born.
Ex. Spink Auction 5028 (May 2005, Lot 169)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-george-ii-gold-5-guineas-1746-lima-ms60-ngc-/a/3096-30315.s?type=CoinArchives3096
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 30000-40000 USD