George I 1716 Guinea, fourth head, with Hanover arms at date, extremely rare

George I (1714-27), gold Guinea, 1716, error reverse with arms of Hanover at date, fourth laureate head right, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS. D. G. M. BR. FR. ET. HIB. REX. F.D., rev. crowned cruciform broad shields, incorporating the Arms of Hanover which appear in error at date, ornamental sceptres in angles, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, .BRVN ET. L. DVX S.R.I.A.TH ET. EL., weight 8.28g (Schneider -; EGC 506 R5; Farey 607 ER page 52; MCE 248; S.3631). Toned but perhaps once cleaned, with light surface marks, one flat spot on edge, otherwise good fine to almost very fine and extremely rare, the first we have ever had for sale.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "George by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith" and on the reverse as "Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

The gold output of coin for 1716 totalled a massive £1,057,543, the third largest of the decade. The Hanoverian arms error at date was only discovered within the last decade and all survivors so far seen of which there are very few seem to be in similar condition to this piece, the reverse shields are all displayed a quarter turn out of sync to what they should be, a very unusual error not see anywhere else (so far) in the gold series but some similar errors known for shillings including the 1723 SSC for this reign which has a variety with French arms at date. We note the first "discovery piece" of this variety graded NGC XF40 and appeared to be more worn than the coin offered herewith, sold for £15,000 hammer at a 2017 auction. A few more have emerged for sale since and we believe there are still less than five known of this extremely rare error.