George I 1726 Five-Guineas, final year of the four for this reign

George I (1714-27), gold Five Guineas, 1726, laureate head facing right, Latin legend commences lower left, toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS. D. G. M. BR. FR. ET. HIB. REX. F. D., rev. inverted die axis, crowned cruciform shields, now incorporating the Arms of Hanover with six heart semée, nine strings to Irish harp, emblematic sceptres in angles, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, .BRVN ET. L. DVX S. R. I. A: TH ET. EL. edge inscribed in raised letters of upright orientation to obverse, .DECUS. ET. TUTAMEN. ANNO. REGNI. DECIMO. TERTIO, all letter Ns inverted as usual, weight 41.32g (Schneider 542; Bull EGC 498; Holloway 79; M.C.E. 241; S.3626). Once polished with a myriad of digs and surface marks, some light tooling in edge lettering, now lightly toned, very fine, final date for the reign.

The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "George, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith" and on the reverse "Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

"The Rarity of Five Guinea Pieces - An Analysis" co-authored by this cataloguer in 2005 revealed 46 examples of the 1726 Five Guineas had been traded, in a survey across hundreds of British auction catalogues and dealer's sales lists over a 45 year period dating back to 1960.

For the 1726 calendar year, output of gold was £872,963 which was the fourth highest of the reign and would likely have consisted of all four Guinea denominations current at the time.

Provenance:

Ex Giessener Munzhandlung, Munich, April 1983, lot 444.