Lot 2088
Great Britain. Five Guineas, 1688. S.3397; Fr-292. James II, 1685-1688. First laureate bust facing left. IACOBVS II DEI GRATIA. Reverse Crowned cruciform shields, scepters in angles. Edge reads +DECVS.ET.TVTAMEN.ANNO.REGNI.TERTIO+ in raised letters. Sharply struck on a good flan with exquisite detail. Strong mint bloom and an absence of striking weakness, blank filing, adjustment marks, metal specks and other problems which plague the gold coinage of this short reign! One of the finest known examples of this rare first bust type Five Guineas. NGC graded MS-61.
* The reign of James II was brief, and the coinage spanned a mere three years. Consequently, James II coins are among the scarcest and most avidly collected in the British numismatic series.
James, the brother of Charles II, was born in October 1633 and married Anne Hyde, with whom he had eight children. In many ways he lived in the shadow of his brother, but, after the death of Charles, James soon showed that he had little tact or intuition. His reign was doomed after the loyalist Tories moved against him over his many Catholic appointments, and Parliament invited his son-in-law and daughter (William and Mary) to become joint monarchs. After abdicating James settled in France and died in exile.
Estimated Value $24,000 - 28,000.
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| Realized $25,300 |
