Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
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Great Britain
George I (1714-1727) gold Guinea 1714, KM538, S-3628, Fr-538, MS64 NGC. Prince Elector issue. Obv: First laureate head right. Rev: Crowned cruciform arms, with alternating scepters at angles, garter star at center; "PR EL" titles in legends. For those of you who follow our sales closely, this must certainly present like an eerie case of déjà vu. For it was only in our last sale that we offered the legendary Bridgewater House/Dr. Jacob Terner/Millennia specimen of this distinctive one-year type with the suggestion that no finer a coin of the type could be found. Well, here it is! While the grade assigned by NGC in both cases reads "64", slight variances lead us to firmly believe in the present piece's slight, but perceptible superiority. A true miracle of survival, the coining impression appears likely to have been accomplished shortly after the dies were serviced, leaving the surfaces unusually fresh with evident die polish lines (as made) and semi-reflective luster that dances about. The strike, often incomplete for this date, is as pronounced as we have found, and even bests the Terner coin. In similar fashion, the relative strength of the die's blow has left much of the edges in dished dimension with the nearby legends retaining perfectly sharp formation. However, the centers are where this piece stands out. While we have never seen a fully complete central strike for this Prince Elector issue, this is as close as it comes. George's hair curls rise in bold ascension from the fields with only the tiniest trace of incompleteness near where his ear would be. On the reverse, the cross inside the garter star approaches completeness. Further study reveals none of the alloy flecking that often plagues issues of the era, an imperfection that many collectors come to accept as normal. Given this date's special significance – the birth of a new line of British nobility - this piece was surely singled out by an early admirer and kept as a special coin for centuries. Resultantly, the fields hold the added charm of reddish highlights on the obverse legends, these colors uniquely framing the new Hanoverian King. All in all, a dazzling standout among standouts in our sale, a must-have coin for the elite British collector and a privilege to offer on the 300th anniversary of the "Prince Elector's" striking! Krause catalog price(s) for this item: $3500 in VF, $6000 in EF, $9500 in UNC.
Estimate: 20000-25000 USD
George I (1714-1727) gold Guinea 1714, KM538, S-3628, Fr-538, MS64 NGC. Prince Elector issue. Obv: First laureate head right. Rev: Crowned cruciform arms, with alternating scepters at angles, garter star at center; "PR EL" titles in legends. For those of you who follow our sales closely, this must certainly present like an eerie case of déjà vu. For it was only in our last sale that we offered the legendary Bridgewater House/Dr. Jacob Terner/Millennia specimen of this distinctive one-year type with the suggestion that no finer a coin of the type could be found. Well, here it is! While the grade assigned by NGC in both cases reads "64", slight variances lead us to firmly believe in the present piece's slight, but perceptible superiority. A true miracle of survival, the coining impression appears likely to have been accomplished shortly after the dies were serviced, leaving the surfaces unusually fresh with evident die polish lines (as made) and semi-reflective luster that dances about. The strike, often incomplete for this date, is as pronounced as we have found, and even bests the Terner coin. In similar fashion, the relative strength of the die's blow has left much of the edges in dished dimension with the nearby legends retaining perfectly sharp formation. However, the centers are where this piece stands out. While we have never seen a fully complete central strike for this Prince Elector issue, this is as close as it comes. George's hair curls rise in bold ascension from the fields with only the tiniest trace of incompleteness near where his ear would be. On the reverse, the cross inside the garter star approaches completeness. Further study reveals none of the alloy flecking that often plagues issues of the era, an imperfection that many collectors come to accept as normal. Given this date's special significance – the birth of a new line of British nobility - this piece was surely singled out by an early admirer and kept as a special coin for centuries. Resultantly, the fields hold the added charm of reddish highlights on the obverse legends, these colors uniquely framing the new Hanoverian King. All in all, a dazzling standout among standouts in our sale, a must-have coin for the elite British collector and a privilege to offer on the 300th anniversary of the "Prince Elector's" striking! Krause catalog price(s) for this item: $3500 in VF, $6000 in EF, $9500 in UNC.
Estimate: 20000-25000 USD