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JM33275

William & Mary 1689 Guinea Elephant & Castle, Royal African Company issue

William and Mary (1688-94),gold Guinea, 1689, elephant and castle below conjoined busts right, legend surrounding, GVLIELMVS. ET. MARIA. DEI. GRATIA, toothed border around rim both sides,rev.crowned quartered shield of arms, Lion of Nassau as an escutcheon at centre surrounded by eight billets, six strings to late harp, date either side of crown, .MAG. BR. FR. ET. HIB. REX. ET. REGINA, weight 8.42g (Schneider 469; Farey 315; EGC 361; MCE 149; S.3427).Toned, orange mint bloom in the recesses, the elephant and castle privy mark well embossed, reverse showing signs of repair at M of MAG or more likely a rim cud flaw, otherwise a bold to good very fine and scarce.

In the appendices of the Guide to the Guinea by Roderick Farey, he reproduces a table published by Thomas Snelling in 1763 taken from the Gazetteer and London Advertiser of 23rdJanuary 1755, listing a year by year account of the number of guineas coins from gold imported by the Royal African company. The total for 1689 being 25,493 guineas and issued at the time it was known as the Royal African Company of England.

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

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