Coin - 5 Guineas, James II, Great Britain, 1687

Search the collections

Summary:: Gold coin: Denomination: 5 Guineas
Tower Mint, London
King James II (1685-1688)

The guinea remained current at 20 shillings during the reign of James II. Its weight had been reduced to 129 39/89 grains in 1670 (from the original 131 29/41 grains when first produced in 1662) to preserve the silver to gold ratio.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Themes this item is part of:	Royal Mint, London, Royal Mint, Tower Hill, 1809-1975, Early History of London Mints, to 1300, The Royal Mint, Numismatics & Philately Collection
Primary Classification:	COINS
Secondary Classification:	Great Britain
Tertiary Classification:	working strikes
DateEra:	1687 AD
Denomination:	5 Guineas
Obverse Description:	Laureate bust of James II facing left; around, IACOBVS . II . DEI . GRATIA (second bust)
Reverse Description:	Four crowned shields, bearing the arms of England Scotland France and Ireland, arranged to form a cross; in the angles four septres surmounted by and orb, thistle, harp and lis; around, MAG . BR . FRA . ET . HIB . REX 1687, the date being divided by the crown above the English shield.
Edge Description:	Raised lettering, DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI TERTIO
Shape:	round
Material:	Gold
Issued By:	King James II, England, Great Britain, 1687
Mint:	Royal Mint, London, London, England, Great Britain, 1687 The Royal Mint was in the Tower of London at the time this coin was struck and is usually referred to as the Tower Mint
Bibliography:	[Book], Philip Skingley - Spink & Sons Ltd., Coins of England and the United Kingdom, Spink & Son Ltd., London, 2007, Spink 3397A Pages