George II 1730 Half-Guinea, young head, extremely rare date

George II (1727-60), gold Half-Guinea, 1730, second young laureate head left, legend GEORGIVS. II . DEI. GRATIA., toothed border around rim both sides,rev.crowned quartered shield of arms, date either side of crown, legend M.B.F.ET.H. REX. F.D.B. ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T ET.E., weight 4.06g (Schneider -; Bull EGC 631 R5; MCE 337; S.3681A).Toned with slight bend in the flan, some old deposit in lettering, otherwise fine and an extremely rare date.

We note the calendar year output for 1730 was a mere £91,628 after zero activity in 1729 for gold, a strange anomaly and the East India Company gold seemingly struck in 1731 according to Schneider. The only gold coins struck 1730 were the Guinea and Half-Guinea both very seldom seen. Consulting coin archives records dating back over twenty years there are only two examples of this coin listed, this coin and the other better one we have for sale on this website.

The Latin legends translate to on obverse "George the Second by the Grace of God" continuing on the reverse in abbreviated Latin which if in shown in full reads "Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor Brun et Lunebergen-sis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-Thesaurius et Elector" and translates as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

Provenance:

Ex Dr Rolf Baumhauer, British gold Collection, Sincona Auction 79, 24^th October 2022, lot 1250.