GAMING PIECE

A complete, Post Medieval to Early Modern, worn gilt copper-alloy milled imitation half-guinea depicting George III (1760-1820), milled during the late 19th Century, c. 1850-c. 1900.

Obverse: GEORGIVS·III DEI GRATIA.; George III, wearing a laureate wreath, facing right. Pellet stop at end of legend.

Reverse: T.P.O.P.E.ET.C.O.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.RIA.1791; Crowned wide spade shaped shield, with date below. The shield bears four panels containing detailed rendering of rampant lions, and passant lion, harp and fleur de lys. The third quarter is split into three, depicting a stylised two lions rampant, a stylised lion passant of Scotland and a third lion rampant at the base, with a shield in the centre. The originals were nicknamed 'spade' guineas due to the shape of the shield.

The piece measures 25.1 mm in diameter and is 1.2 mm and weighs 3.7 g. It has a diaxis measurement of 12 o'clock.

The object is a gold in colour and has an even patina. Abrasion caused by movement whilst within the plough soil may have resulted in the loss of some of the original surface detail. Other examples have been recorded on the database including LIN-CF1259.

Taken from LIN-CF1259:

The Token Corresponding Society (www.tokensociety.org.uk - accessed, 14/10/2014) offers the following information on these imitations: There is an extensive series of over 1,000 different Imitation Spade Guineas, issued not in gold but in brass or bronze. Some are gilt which can make it look like gold and this does cause some confusion. They were mostly struck in the 1800's, during the reign of Queen Victoria, but to avoid the Counterfeit Laws they, usually, have the bust of King George III on the obverse and, usually, the reverse includes the spade shield, - hence the name "spade guinea". To qualify as an Imitation Spade Guinea a coin must have one or both of these aspects.

The guineas range between 24-27mm diameter and the half guineas 20-22mm.

Many coins are dated in the 1700's and not in the 1800's, to reinforce that they were not real currency guineas. Their purpose was as gaming / gambling counters, to look like sovereigns and half sovereigns, to show off the expertise of the engravers and manufacturers, many of whom were named on the piece - mainly from Birmingham, UK - and as advertising tokens for many types of business, as "give away's" and promotional items.