Charles II 1673 Five-Guineas, first bust, PCGS AU50

Charles II (1660-85), gold Five Guineas, 1673, first laureate bust right, Latin legend with pellet stops surrounding, CAROLVS. II. DEI. GRATIA. translates as "Charles II by the Grace of God" toothed border surrounding, rev. crowned cruciform emblematic shields, emblematic sceptres in angles, four interlinked C's at centre, date either side of top crown, abbreviated Latin legend, .MAG. BR. FRA. ET.HIB. REX. translates as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland" toothed border surrounding, edge inscribed in raised letters DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI VICESIMO QVINTO, translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the twenty fifth year of the reign (Schneider -; Bull EGC 176; King 96; Holloway 10; M.C.E. 8; S. 3328). Some surface marks, nice red tone, less than 20 pieces in commerce of this date, has been slabbed and graded by PCGS as AU50.

PCGS certification 342812.50/27356664.

King Survey = only 19 examples in commerce over the period 1960-2005.

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."

We note that the total calendar year output of gold for 1673 = £119,852 which would have been used to produce Five Guineas, Two Guineas, Guineas and Half-Guineas.

Provenance:

Ex Heritage, Long Beach Sale, 25^th September 2013, lot 24845.