Charles II 1684 Five-Guineas, 2nd bust, NGC AU53, final date of reign, T. SEXTO

Charles II (1660-85), gold Five Guineas, 1684, second 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 TRICESIMO SEXTO, translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the thirty sixth year of the reign, weight 41.73g (Schneider 427; Bull EGC 202; King 108; Holloway 38; M.C.E. 29; S.3331; Fr.281; KM.444.1).Nice red tone with some light surface marks, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as AU53, final year for reign.

NGC certification 2113951-035 - AU53 - So far 20 Five Guinea coins have been straight graded at both services of which seven are finer than this piece, this being the only one on the 53 step.

King Survey = 71 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 1684 = £284,488 which would have been used to produce Five Guineas, Two Guineas, Guineas and Half-Guineas.

Provenance:

Ex St James Auction 10, 6^th November 2008, lot 749.