william 3rd guinea

[Guest nick hewett]

I have agold coin, dated 1701. One side has william 3rd wearing a wreath and on the other is a shield, the coin is in good condition and measures approx 26mm across. Not knowing much about coins i was wondering if anyone may know what it could be and an approx value as a friend has suggested it may be a spade guinea?

[Emperor Oli 0]

To ascertain value, we need a grade for the coin. By registering and posting a picture, we can be more exact.

But, I am concerned about the "shield" - could you be more exact? Does the coin look like the one below (this is a larger denomination but the reverse is still the same)

A spade guinea is one minted during the reign on George III and looks like the one below

If it is a William III guinea, it has a range of values. A picture is needed not only to grade it, but because there are three varieties of 1701 all with different values.

[Sylvester 15]

That is a nice 5 guinea piece!

[Guest nick hewett]

Unfortunately my camera is faulty at the mo but it seems I got my Kings and dates wrong. I took the 9 as a 0 so the coin is actually 1791 and George III, Exactly the same as the second coin shown by emporer oli in colour and condition. The way the writing seems to almost fall of the edge of the coin is what caused me to miss read.!

[Emperor Oli 0]

If it's exactly the same as the one in the picture, it's valued at about £450.

[Sylvester 15]

Unfortunately my camera is faulty at the mo but it seems I got my Kings and dates wrong. I took the 9 as a 0 so the coin is actually 1791 and George III, Exactly the same as the second coin shown by emporer oli in colour and condition. The way the writing seems to almost fall of the edge of the coin is what caused me to miss read.!

26mm is too big for a guinea, it should be 24mm.

Size with these can vary a little but 2mm in coin terms is quite a bit.

What's the weight of the piece? It should be 8.4g exact. Coins of this period went more on weight than exact size.

Are the legends (the writing) the same on yours as on the one pictured.

I have to ask is because during the Victorian period lots and lots of imitations were made out of brass "in memory of the good old days" and other such legends. These were struck as gaming counters. The size of those varies quit alot. The weight will not be 8.4g if they are brass.

I suspect some of the brass ones will have been gilt also making them look like gold.

[Emperor Oli 0]

I was editing my post to say it could be a counter, but if it looked exactly like the picture I figured that the normal counterfeits weren't that sophisticated.

A counterfeit is pictured below, although it's rather crude

[Sylvester 15]

Also any holes, ex mounting marks? Bits of solder on them... many real ones were mutilated in the Victorian period and used as fobs on watch chains.

I don't know where Oli got that price from i was thinking more £220-£250 if it's like the one pictured.

Look at all the scratches!

[Emperor Oli 0]

I thought with the scratches it still grades at AEF so I took a stab between VF and EF. You should see what it was actually sold at - £550!

[Sylvester 15]

I thought with the scratches it still grades at AEF so I took a stab between VF and EF.  You should see what it was actually sold at - £550!

Lemme guess Colin Cooke...

No way would i pay that for that.

Coincraft states £400 in EF, i grade it GVF/AEF so £270. (VF being £210).

But Coincraft are high on the prices so for a 1795 i'd say £300-£320 at the most not a penny more. £270 would be my happy price.

For 1791 i'd say £250. Cos 91s are more common.

[Emperor Oli 0]

Coincraft is four years out of date, bear in mind. The disparity between the prices you suggest for a 1791 and a 1795 isn't very large considering the mintage for 1791 is about six times that of 1795. I'd still love to own a spade guinea one day!

[Sylvester 15]

Coincraft is four years out of date, bear in mind. The disparity between the prices you suggest for a 1791 and a 1795 isn't very large considering the mintage for 1791 is about six times that of 1795. I'd still love to own a spade guinea one day!

On the contrary Oli i discussed this on coinpeople with another member. The Coincraft prices are much nearer to the market prices now than they ever were. Infact give it a year and the Coincraft 2000 will be spot on. The market prices are just catching up.

[Chris Perkins 228]

Yeah, and what's this doing in Ancients!

Moving.........