Gold Coins...Guinea's & Sovereigns....etc

[Citizen H 82]

After showing some of the hoard of silver coins and becoming a bit repetitive I decided it may be good time to look at some of the gold coins.

the few I have were dismissed by one dealer as they were rubbed..... I did pick them up when I was uneducated and purely as it was very old and imagine who owned it, what it paid for etc.... so I was more about history rather than the financial reason...... although the price of gold may have seen these increase 4 times ?!?! realistically I wouldn't be able to buy them nowadays.  

reading from the following on how many that were melted down? so even though its rubbed...it survived.

Id be really interest not only to see what made of mine and to also see others.... I did have a brief look to see if mine had Mint marks....errrrmmm I think someone else may need to take a look 

please do show some of yours to get things started on this topic....Many thanks "H"  

In the Great Recoinage of 1816, the guinea was demonetised and replaced by the gold sovereign. Following the Great Recoinage, the word "guinea" was retained as a colloquial or specialised term, even though the coins were no longer in use; the term guinea also survived as a unit of account in some fields. Notable usages included professional fees (medical, legal, etc.), which were often invoiced in guineas, and horse racing and greyhound racing, and the sale of rams. In each case a guinea meant an amount of one pound and one shilling (21 shillings, £1.05 in decimal notation)

[Paddy 1,874]

It would be interesting to see what you have. I don't really collect gold, although I have a few odds and ends.

I know from my market days many "guineas" brought to me were actually 19th century gaming tokens in brass, loosely imitating the by then defunct guinea coins.

The only pre-sovereign British gold coin I have is this third guinea from 1810:

 

[Paddy 1,874]

I am surprised the 1810 third Guinea has garnered so many likes - it looks too rough for me!

I like this Victoria 1872 Sovereign much more. I bought it originally during my dealing days and sold it straight on to a friend. A few years later, he needed cash and offered it back to me at the original price. Gold had gone up substantially in the meantime, so I gave him more but I think it was still a good deal and I have kept it since then.

[Citizen H 82]

Hello Paddy,  Third guinea from 1810:

with a Rarity index: 72 (0 being common 100 V Rare) Auction sales sees this as a price £ 300 AU   £ 530 uncirculated.... 

Mints: Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975) Royal Mint (Tower of London), United Kingdom (1279-1810)

Engraver: Lewis Pingo

Demonetized

This much I've found out......

All the best "H" 

Edited February 11 by Citizen H

[Citizen H 82]

22 minutes ago, Paddy said:

I am surprised the 1810 third Guinea has garnered so many likes - it looks too rough for me!

I like this Victoria 1872 Sovereign much more. I bought it originally during my dealing days and sold it straight on to a friend. A few years later, he needed cash and offered it back to me at the original price. Gold had gone up substantially in the meantime, so I gave him more but I think it was still a good deal and I have kept it since then.

Victoria 1872 Sovereign

 Rarity index: 26 (0 being common 100 V Rare)

for issues with mintmark below wreath, see Australia - Colonial (M = Melbourne mint, S = Sydney mint)

A die error is known to exist: Obverse with "GRΛTIΛ" instead of "GRATIA"

Obverse, reverse and overdate varieties exist: 

Without die number,

Die number below wreath,

Additional raised line on lower part of ribbon (Ansell type)

Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)

Engraver: Jean Baptiste Merlen

£ 640 VF  £ 640 XF  £ 640 AU  £ 840 UNC (sales realized on Internet platforms)

Mintage 13 486 708

Hope this helps........ Rgds "H"

[Citizen H 82]

The first I'd like to show is a worn Charles II, 1676 Guinea 4th bust,  

Type Standard circulation coins

Years1672-1684

Engraver: John Roettier

Auction sales sees this as a price realized on Internet platforms £ 760 VF  £ 2000 AU

Rarity index: 93 (0 being common 100 V Rare) Demonetized 1860

Sadly this is all I've found out... unsure of were these were minted.... 

 

 

 

[Citizen H 82]

George I 1719

Standard circulation coin

Rarity index: 92 (0 being common 100 V Rare)

Engraver: Johann Ochs

Note: tie in hair with loop and 1 end

Years 1716-1723

Extremely rare varieties with elephant and castle below head struck from gold mined in Guinea, now Ghana

Auction sales price....to be advised.

This much I've found out......

All the best "H" 

[Sword 1,527]

The colour doesn't look realistic for gold pieces though. I hope they look a lot more yellow (like Paddy's sovereign) in real life.

[Citizen H 82]

21 hours ago, Sword said:

The colour doesn't look realistic for gold pieces though. I hope they look a lot more yellow (like Paddy's sovereign) in real life.

 

Hello Sword, it was an over cast day the photos were taken, they live in a plastic sleeve thats been maybe 20 odd years ago so could be why they dis colour ?  they were bought from Coins of the Realm and found them to be reputable.... unless anyone else knows other wise?  

 

Edited February 17 by Citizen H

[Citizen H 82]

George II 1733

Young portrait

Standard circulation coins 1734-1739

Obverse Engraver: John Croker

Reverse Engraver: John Tanner

Rarity index: 93 (0 being common 100 V Rare)

Auction sales price....to be advised.

All the best "H" 

 

 

 

[Citizen H 82]

On 2/11/2025 at 7:10 PM, Paddy said:

I am surprised the 1810 third Guinea has garnered so many likes - it looks too rough for me!

I like this Victoria 1872 Sovereign much more. I bought it originally during my dealing days and sold it straight on to a friend. A few years later, he needed cash and offered it back to me at the original price. Gold had gone up substantially in the meantime, so I gave him more but I think it was still a good deal and I have kept it since then.

hello Paddy,

more delving into Sovereigns has provided more information

Minting error in the word 'BRITANNIARUM'. A reversed Roman numeral '1' has been used instead of the second letter 'I'. 

yours has 15 above the rose that's a London Mint number,

interestingly I've found that x 2 of mine have S, Sydney Australia mint mark.  

another uneducated purchase on my part that turned out nicely. 

[Sword 1,527]

On 2/17/2025 at 9:12 AM, Citizen H said:

Hello Sword, it was an over cast day the photos were taken, they live in a plastic sleeve thats been maybe 20 odd years ago so could be why they dis colour ?  they were bought from Coins of the Realm and found them to be reputable.... unless anyone else knows other wise?  

Should be fine if they were brought from a reputable dealer. Gold brought 20 years ago would be a decent investment. 

[Citizen H 82]

George II 1734

2nd young portrait

Standard circulation coins 1729-1738

Engraver: John Croker

Script Engraver: John Tanner

Obverse varieties with E.I.C. under the head were struck from gold mined in Guinea, now Ghana, and supplied by the East India Company.

Rarity index: 92 (0 being common 100 V Rare)

Auction sales price....to be advised.

All the best "H" 

 

Edited February 18 by Citizen H

[Citizen H 82]

On 2/17/2025 at 10:03 AM, Citizen H said:

George II 1733

Young portrait

Standard circulation coins 1734-1739

Obverse Engraver: John Croker

Reverse Engraver: John Tanner

Rarity index: 93 (0 being common 100 V Rare)

Auction sales price....to be advised.

All the best "H" 

 

 

 

A correction..... Sorry I miss the deadline to edit the post when I noticed the date/portrait error , although this can be confusing depending on the source of information... I've been using Numista....please do tell me if its not a reliable place.

this is actually a 1 Guinea - George II 2nd young portrait, 

Standard circulation coins 1729-1738

All the best "H" 

 

Edited February 18 by Citizen H

[Rob 3,228]

Get yourself a copy of Coins of England as this gives the most comprehensive coverage from Celtic through to the modern day. It doesn't have to be the latest (2025) unless you want ballpark current prices. For id purposes, any copy from the last 15 years would be fine, but bear in mind they split the pre-decimal and decimal coins in 2015. Any copy 2014 or earlier has them combined. Go too early and the picture quality and quantity are somewhat lacking. 

[Citizen H 82]

George III 1773

3rd portrait

Standard circulation coins 1765-1773

Rarity index: 92 (0 being common 100 V Rare)

Past sales,  2 Jan 2025  Heritage Auctions  VF  GBP 618.45

 

[Citizen H 82]

 George III 'Spade' Guinea 1797

5th portrait

Standard circulation coins 1787-1799

Engraver: Lewis Pingo

Rarity index: 45 (0 being common 100 V Rare)

Auction sales price £ 620 VF  £ 680 XF  £ 760  AU (sales realized on Internet platforms)

 

 

Edited February 20 by Citizen H

[Citizen H 82]

George III 1803 half guinea

6th portrait

Standard circulation coins 1801-1803

Rarity index: 87 (0 being common 100 V Rare)

Auction sales price    £ 420 AU   £ 1200 UNC

[Citizen H 82]

George III 1804 half guinea

7th portrait

Standard circulation coin 1804-1813

Engraver: Lewis Pingo

Numista Rarity index: 83

Auction sales price AU £ 580 UNC £ 750