George II 1741/38 Five-Guineas, young bust, AU55

George II (1727-60), gold Five Guineas, 1741, the 4 struck over a 3 in date, young laureate head left, GEORGIVS.II. DEI.GRATIA, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, eleven strings to Irish harp, date either side of crown, M.B.FE. ET. H. REX. F.D. B.ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T ET. E. edge inscribed in raised letter and dated, +DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN ANNO. REGNI. DECIMO. QVARTO (Schneider 563 dies 7/7; Bull EGC 560; Holloway 87; MCE 284; S.3663A). Light surface marks and nicks both sides, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as AU55.

NGC Certification 3743673-008.

According to "The Rarity of Five Guinea Pieces - An Analysis" which appeared in the preface of the Samuel King Collection of Highly Important English Gold, a survey of 45 years of dealer sales lists and auction catalogues from 1960-2005, a total of 107 examples of this date of Five Guinea were traced in commerce which is the second highest figure across the 8 possible dates of the reign. Herbert Schneider also analysed the gold Five Guinea and Two Guinea coins of George II in his Spink Numismatic Circular article "The Five Guinea and Two Guinea Pieces of George II" in February 1957, but gives the 11 string harp reverse as the non-overdate when the 4 of this coin is clearly over a 3. The output of gold for the calendar year of 1741 was quite low at £25,232 worth, about ten times less than normal and there was no output of any gold or silver in 1742. As surviving examples number relatively high perhaps this means that 1741 dated coins were being prepared during 1740 as the output that year was £196,245.

Provenance:

Ex Heritage, New York Signature Sale, 6^th January 2014, lot 24158.