William and Mary 1692 Five-Guineas NGC MS61, edge QVARTO

William and Mary (1688-94), gold Five Guineas, 1692, 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 QVARTO, translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the fourth year of the reign, weight 41.66g (Schneider -; Bull EGC 347; King 127; Holloway 49; M.C.E. 138; S. 3422). Toned with some light surface marks, the second date for the denomination in this reign, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS61.

NGC certification 2113951-043 - MS61 - Of the 57 thus far straight graded by both services of this edge year of Five Guinea only nine are graded finer than this coin. This coin shares this grading step with only three others.

King Survey = 95 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 1692 = £114,499 which would have been used to produce Five Guineas, Guineas and Half-Guineas.

Provenance:

Ex St James Auction 6, 8th June 2007, lot 201.

Ex St James Auction 9, 18th June 2008, lot 581.