Lot 321
Great Britain. Guinea, 1664 Elephant. S-3341; Fr-288; KM-423.2. Charles II, 1660-1685. Second Bust. Laureate head right, elephant hallmark below bust. Reverse: Crowned cruciform arms, with alternating scepters at angles, central interlocking C's. Cited by Spink as extremely rare, and one of the few coins in that reference listed but unpriced until recently (£12,500 in EF grade). Despite some faint tin impurities in the flan (typical of this era), this coin is as struck with gorgeous eye-appeal and a remarkably bold strike for its time. Evidently it was made for some special purpose, and subsequently saved with great care. Remarkable, both as an object in its own right, and the historical piece that it is. Probably the finest known of its type. A renowned specimen. NGC graded MS-64.
The Guinea denomination was named for the original source of British gold ore in the mid-17th century, from the country in Africa then called Guinea. This particular coin, as the first gold piece of this size to bear the distinctive Elephant hallmark, is thus the prototype for all guineas to come. It is arguably the most important gold coin among great coins in the English portion of the Millennia Collection.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 50,000.
From the famed Bridgewater House sale, lot 143; ex Spink sale #91, lot 60; ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection. Illustrated in Money of The World, coin 103.
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| Realized $77,625 |
