George III 1787 proof Half-Guinea by Pingo, only 168 struck NGC PF62 Cameo

George III (1760-1820), gold proof Half Guinea, 1787, fifth laureate head right, Latin legend surrounding, GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA., rev. spade shaped crowned quartered shield of arms, date below, legend reads in abbreviated Latin commencing lower left, M.B.F. ET. H. REX. F.D. B.ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T ET. E., edge, plain, weight 4.39g (EGC 828 R3; WR 130; S.3735). A good strike with clear fields, light toning spots on reverse spade and obverse peripheries, some light hairlines, graded by NGC as PF62 Cameo and very rare.

NGC Certification 21307170-029.

The Latin legends translate to on obverse "George III 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."

A total of 168 proof Guineas were produced by Lewis Pingo along with equal numbers of the proof Half Guinea and silver proof Shilling and Sixpence all dated 1787 for the Directors and Governors of the Bank of England as well as for officers within the Mint.

Provenance:

Ex Dr Rolf Baumhauer, British gold collection, part 3, Sincona auction 79, 24^th October 2022, lot 1316.