COIN

Six gold coins from the reign of George III, AD 1760-1820. This group of post-medieval coins contains four half-guineas and two guineas. All have a milled edge to the flan. They range in date from AD 1787-1803.

A) A post-medieval gold half-guinea of George III, AD 1760-1820.

Obverse shows laureate bust right, sixth head. Obverse legend reads GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA Reverse shows crowned shield of arms, dated 1802 below. Reverse legend reads BRITANNIARUM REX FI DEI DEFENSOR. Die axis is 12 o'clock. Weight is 4.17g, diameter is 20.4mm, thickness is 0.9mm. Spink no.3736.

B) A post-medieval gold half-guinea of George III, AD 1760-1820.

Obverse shows laureate bust right, sixth head. Obverse legend reads GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA Reverse shows crowned shield of arms, dated 1803 below. Reverse legend reads BRITANNIARUM REX FI DEI DEFENSOR. Die axis is 12 o'clock. Weight is 4.18g, diameter is 20.3mm, thickness is 0.9mm. Spink no.3736.

C) A slightly bent post-medieval gold half-guinea of George III, AD 1760-1820.

Obverse shows laureate bust right, fifth head. Obverse legend reads GEORGIVS III DEI GRATI[A.]. Reverse shows crowned (spade shaped)shield of arms, dated 1787 below. Reverse legend reads M.B.F.ET.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E. Die axis is 12 o'clock. Weight is 4.09g, diameter is 20.6mm, thickness is 0.8mm. Spink no.3735.

D) A post-medieval gold half-guinea of George III, AD 1760-1820.

Obverse shows laureate bust right, fifth head. Obverse legend reads GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA. . Reverse shows crowned (spade shaped)shield of arms, dated 1797 below. Reverse legend reads M.B.F.ET.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E. Die axis is 12 o'clock. Weight is 4.16g, diameter is 20.6mm, thickness is 0.9mm. Spink no.3735.

E) A post-medieval gold guinea of George III, AD 1760-1820.

Obverse shows laureate bust right, fifth head. Obverse legend reads GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA. . Reverse shows crowned (spade shaped)shield of arms, dated 1791 below. Reverse legend reads M.B.F.ET.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E. Die axis is 12 o'clock. Weight is 8.36g, diameter is 24.3mm, thickness is 1.2mm. Spink no.3729.

F) A post-medieval gold guinea of George III, AD 1760-1820.

Obverse shows laureate bust right, fourth head. Obverse legend reads GEORGIVS.III/DEI.GRATIA. . Reverse shows crowned shield of arms, dated 1791 either side of the crown. Reverse legend reads 17/78.M.B.F.ET.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E. Die axis is 6 o'clock. Weight is 8.35g, diameter is 24.5mm, thickness is 1.2mm. Spink no.3728.

Discussion: These coins are all official British gold issues and will be of the 'crown gold' standard of 22 carats fine. Their total value of 4 guineas (i.e. £4 4s.) was a considerable sum, equivalent to at least several hundred pounds in modern terms and up to several thousand, depending on the manner of comparison. Coin hoards from the mid-18^th century are relatively rare, but there was an increase in hoarding from the 1790s to around 1812, the time of the wars with Revolutionary and Napoleonic France. There was large scale hoarding of gold in this period and the hoards that appear in modern times have usually consisted of gold guineas and their fractions. This find appears to fit well into this pattern.

Conclusion: The Treasure Act 1996 states that any find that would have been classed as Treasure Trove is still defined as Treasure under the Act. Therefore this hoard of gold coins, which was probably deposited with the intention of recovery, should be considered as potential Treasure.

Coin references

No coin references available.