James II 1687 Five-Guineas, 2nd bust, NGC MS62, 2nd finest graded, edge TERTIO

James II (1685-88), gold Five Guineas, 1687, second laureate bust left, Latin legend with pellet stops surrounding, IACOBVS. II. DEI. GRATIA. translates as "James II by the Grace of God" toothed border surrounding, rev. crowned cruciform emblematic shields, emblematic sceptres in angles, pellet 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 TERTIO, translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the third year of the reign, weight 41.75g (Schneider 453; Bull EGC 313; King 117; Holloway 42; M.C.E. 117; S. 3397A). Toned with some light surface marks and hairlines, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS62, second finest so far graded, first year of second bust for James II.

NGC certification 2113951-038 - MS62 Second finest of the population of the 49 straight graded by both services with only two others finer both graded at the 64 level, the only one currently on this grading step.

King Survey = 127 examples in commerce over the period 1960-2005.

The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "James 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 1687 = £401,301 which would have been used to produce Five Guineas, Two Guineas, Guineas and Half-Guineas.

Provenance:

Ex A H Baldwin, London, purchased Spring 2007.