Description
2013 marks the 350th Anniversary of the Guinea, one of the best known and most popular gold coins in the long history of British currency.
The Royal Warrant of 24 December 1663 authorising the issue of a twenty -shilling (or one pound) coin in 22 carat gold. No official name was formally attached to the coin. Its introduction coincided with a period if dramatic change at the Mint, which was then housed in the Tower of London. The year had seen the final abandonment of the centuries old practice of striking coin by hand and hammer. Samuel Pepys viewed the new practices and saw how the new coins were being struck, he said they were struck with ‘great exactness’.
This new process improved protection against clipping and counterfeiting.
The most significant feature of this ‘new’ gold coin, was by the terms of the Royal Warrant, any coins struck from gold imported from Africa was to bear a distinguishing mark of a little elelphant. Among the first coins of 1663, the little elephant was added just below the King’s Head, and it was this feature , advertising the origin of the gold, as the ‘Guinea coast of Africa’ , where this ‘new gold coin’ got its nickname ‘The Guinea’
This gold Two pound coin depicts, the ‘Spade- Guinea’ of George III.
Which features the crown atop of the Royal Shield, which depicts the four countries, which makes up the United Kingdom.
This stunning Gold Proof Two Pound Coin.
Comes complete with number Certificate of Authenticity,
an informative booklet, box and cardboard outer.
Metal:
Inner: 22 Carat Yellow Gold
Outer: 22 Carat Rose Gold
Weight: 15.976 Grams
Diameter: 28.40 mm
Quality: Proof
Denomination: Two Pound
