Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3035 3-5 September 2014
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Great Britain
Charles II gold Guinea 1666 AU53 PCGS, S-3342, 3rd Laureate Bust, rare, balanced strike showing bold legends and date, with unusually pleasing surfaces featuring fine old-gold color. A long, thin die-break curls under the truncation of the king's bust, disappears, then picks up again through the second and third letters of his name. A rare chance to bid on this early milled gold issue, minted within four years of the beginning of the guinea coinage. In early September of 1666, the Great Fire of London spread throughout the city, still largely medieval in character and in structure, most of its buildings made of wood. In four days, the fire destroyed much of the city. It is believed that no manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays exist today because of the fire, and countless personal possessions and historical artifacts perished in the flames -- as did the thousands of rats that had spread the bubonic plague in the previous year. The fire ended the plague, which otherwise might have obliterated most of the population. Now look at this delightful gold guinea again, realizing what perils it survived, and the times it witnessed. "History in your hands."
Estimate: 4500-6000 USD
Charles II gold Guinea 1666 AU53 PCGS, S-3342, 3rd Laureate Bust, rare, balanced strike showing bold legends and date, with unusually pleasing surfaces featuring fine old-gold color. A long, thin die-break curls under the truncation of the king's bust, disappears, then picks up again through the second and third letters of his name. A rare chance to bid on this early milled gold issue, minted within four years of the beginning of the guinea coinage. In early September of 1666, the Great Fire of London spread throughout the city, still largely medieval in character and in structure, most of its buildings made of wood. In four days, the fire destroyed much of the city. It is believed that no manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays exist today because of the fire, and countless personal possessions and historical artifacts perished in the flames -- as did the thousands of rats that had spread the bubonic plague in the previous year. The fire ended the plague, which otherwise might have obliterated most of the population. Now look at this delightful gold guinea again, realizing what perils it survived, and the times it witnessed. "History in your hands."
Estimate: 4500-6000 USD