William and Mary 1693 Five-Guineas NGC MS62+, edge QVINTO

William and Mary (1688-94), gold Five Guineas, 1693, 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 QVINTO, translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the fifth year of the reign, weight 41.76g (Schnieder 462; Bull EGC 350; King 129; Holloway 52; M.C.E. 140; S. 3422). Toned with some light surface marks, the third date for the denomination in this reign, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS62+.

NGC certification 2113951-044 - MS62+. The only one graded on this level at NGC along with one other at PCGS only three others graded finer out of a total of 35 pieces across both services.

King Survey = 91 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 1693 = £55,968 which would have been used to produce Five Guineas, Two Guineas, Guineas and Half-Guineas.

Provenance:

Ex Samuel King, Spink Coin Auction 173, 5th May 2005, lot 129.