£7,000 - £9,000
Charles II (1660-85), gold Five Guineas, 1681, second laureate bust right, Latin legend with pellet stops surrounding, CAROLVS. II. DEI. GRATIA., toothed border surrounding, rev. crowned cruciform emblematic shields, sceptres in angles, four interlinked C's at centre, date either side of top crown, Latin legend surrounding, .MAG. BR. FRA. ET.HIB REX., edge inscribed in raised letters DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI TRICESIMO TERTIO, 41.54g (Schneider -; Bull EGC 194 plate coin; King -; Holloway 31; M.C.E. 23; S. 3331). Ex jewellery piece with some residual solder on edge and parts of inscription worn flat, heavy surface marks with some attrition both sides, a couple of rim cuts, a bold fine, less than 20 examples known in commerce.
The Rarity of Five Guinea Pieces - An Analysis appeared in the preface of the Samuel King Collection of Highly Important English Gold Coins sold at Spink on 5th May 2005 co-written by the present cataloguer. The analysis showed that over a 45-year period preceding 2005, since 1960 that only 17 examples of the Five Guineas dated 1681 plain below bust had been bought or sold in numismatic commerce, one of the smallest amounts for this bust type.The Latin legends translate as on the obverse Charles the second by the Grace of God, and abbreviated on the reverse as King of Great Britain, France and Ireland.The total gold output for the calendar year 1681 amounted to £299,119 worth of Five Guineas, Two Guineas, Guineas and Half-Guineas.
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