Charles II 1675 Five-Guineas, first bust, NGC MS61+ finest graded very rare date

Charles II (1660-85), gold Five Guineas, 1675, first laureate bust right similar style with shorter ribbon ties, Latin legend with pellet stops surrounding, CAROLVS. II. DEI. GRATIA. translates as "Charles II by the Grace of God" toothed border surrounding, rev. crowned cruciform emblematic shields, emblematic sceptres in angles, four interlinked C's at centre, date either side of top crown, abbreviated Latin legend, .MAG. BR. FRA. ET.HIB. REX. translates as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland" toothed border surrounding, edge inscribed in raised letters DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI VICESIMO SEPTIMO, translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the twenty seventh year of the reign, weight 41.74g (Schneider -; Bull EGC 178 plate coin; King 97 this coin; Holloway 14; M.C.E. 10; S. 3328A). Superb red coloured tone with an almost proof-like surface, well struck with a mint state grading and one of the rarest dates in commerce with only 7 examples recorded for sale in a 45 year period, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS61+ currently the finest graded example of this date, the plate coin from English Gold Coinage.

NGC certification 2113951-023 - MS61+ Top of Population, by Far the finest graded out of only five examples, the next one down being at 55 level. PCGS has not graded any of this date.

King Survey = 7 examples in commerce over the period 1960-2005.

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

We note that the total calendar year output of gold for 1675 = £51,741 which would have been used to produce Five Guineas, Two Guineas, Guineas and Half-Guineas.

Provenance:

Ex Glendining, 26th June 1963, lot 3.

Ex Richard Strauss, Sotheby, 26th May 1994, lot 170.

Ex Samuel King, Spink Coin Auction 173, 5th May 2005, lot 97.