George III 1813 proof "Military" Guinea R4 PF61 CAMEO

George III (1760-1820), gold Proof "Military" Guinea, 1813, sixth laureate head right, legend surrounding, GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA, rev. quartered shield of arms within crowned garter, French legend on garter HONI. SOIT. QUI. MAL. Y. PENSE, date below, legend commences upper right, BRITANNIARUM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR (cf.Schneider 613; WR 114 R4; S.3730). Brilliant proof with excellent definition from multiple strikes of the dies, evident doubling at tip of truncation and second I of III in legend, a couple of hairline scratches, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as PF61 cameo, extremely rare.

The 1813 Guinea is the last year the denomination was struck for currency and represents a new design since the previous spade type Guinea some 14 years earlier. It was termed the military Guinea as it was produced to help pay the English soldiers advancing into France, and interestingly an extra 7,455 pounds weight of gold was minted in London this year into Anglo-Hanoverian Five Thaler pieces, for the use of the Kings electorate at Brunswick Luneberg in the process of being liberated by the British forces which occurred by 1815. A total of £519,722 worth of gold Guineas, Half-Guineas and Third-Guineas were struck in this calendar year which was the largest output since 1804, and there was no gold output at all in 1807 or 1812.

Some presentation piece proof versions were struck as we have offered here, they are all struck to a superior quality with brilliant fields when compared to the currency pieces, furthermore all seem to have a doubling of the tip of the truncation from the multiple strike given to enhance the definition of the design.