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James II 1687 Five-Guineas XF45, Elephant & Castle below first bust
James II (1685-88), gold Five Guineas, 1687, elephant and castle below first laureate head left, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, IACOBVS. II. DEI. GRATIA, rev. crowned cruciform shields, sceptres in angles, date either side of top crown, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, .MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB REX., edge inscribed in raised letters, +.DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN. ANNO. REGNI. TERTIO.+., weight 41.58g (Schneider 452; Holloway 43; Bull EGC 312 R; MCE 118 VR; S.3398). Toned with surface marks and wear to high points, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as XF45 and rare.
NGC certification 2130713-017.
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."
The Samuel King Survey co-written by this cataloguer and published in May 2005 recorded only 38 examples traded in commerce over a 45 year period, making this the second rarest Five Guineas of King James II.
Provenance:
Ex Schweizerische Kreditanstalt, Zurich, July 1984.
Ex Dr Rolf Baumhauer, British Gold Collection, Part 3, Sincona Auction 79, 24th October 2022, lot 1179