William and Mary 1691 Five-Guineas, NGC MS61, TERTIO edge, conjoined busts

William and Mary (1688-94), gold Five Guineas, 1691, conjoined laureate busts right, Latin legend with pellet stops surrounding, GVLIELMVS. ET. MARIA. DEI. GRATIA translates as "William and Mary by the Grace of God" toothed border surrounding, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms with scalloped frame, with an escutcheon of the Lion of Nassau, date either side of top crown, abbreviated Latin legend .MAG. BR. FR. ET.HIB REX. ET. REGINA. translates as "King and Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland" toothed border surrounding, edge inscribed in raised letters DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI TERTIO, translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the third year of the reign, weight 41.76g (Schneider -; Bull EGC 344; King 124; Holloway 47; M.C.E. 136; S. 3422). Toned with some light surface marks, the first date for the denomination in this reign, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS61, the second finest graded.

NGC certification 2113951-042 - MS61 - The second finest graded of 34 straight graded at both services and the only one on this grading step.

King Survey = 111 examples in commerce over the period 1960-2005.

The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "William and Mary by the Grace of God," and abbreviated on the reverse as "King and Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland."

We note that the total calendar year output of gold for 1691 = £54,497 which would have been used to produce Five Guineas, Two Guineas, Guineas and Half-Guineas.

Provenance:

Ex Dix Noonan and Webb, 28th September 2005, lot 735.