George II (1727-1760)
5 Guineas 1729, TERTIO, London mint
Estimate: £20,000-£25,000
The Five-Guinea piece was the largest regularly used gold coin in the UK for nearly a century. It was first minted in 1668 during the reign of Charles II and The Royal Mint stopped production in 1758, meaning George II was the last monarch to feature on the denomination.
First minted in 1729, the George II Five Guinea piece was issued in two types, the ‘East India Company’ variety and the rarer and more scarce ‘Plain’ variety. The coin offered in our April sale is of the rarer ‘Plain’ variety – it does not have the E.I.C. monogram below the bust of King George.