© Heritage Auctions
© Heritage Auctions
½ Guinea - James II
| Gold (.917) | 4.19 g | - |
| Issuer | England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| King | James II (1685-1688) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1686-1688 |
| Value | ½ Guinea |
| Currency | Pound sterling (1158-1970) |
| Composition | Gold (.917) |
| Weight | 4.19 g |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-08 |
| Numista | N#27950 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Crowned cruciform shields with sceptres bearing national emblems in angles, divided date above, legend around.
Script: Latin
Lettering: MAG· BR·FRA· ET·HIB· REX·16 88·
Translation: King of Great Britain France and Ireland
Edge
Reeded
Comment
These coins were struck at 89 to the pound troy, giving a standard weight of 12/89 troy ounce (64.7 grains).Obverse die varieties:
Sp#3404, KM#458.1 (1686-88) Laureate bust left;
Sp#3405, KM#458.2 (1686-88) Elephant and castle below bust.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the ½ Guinea coin from James II's reign is that it was part of a series of coins that were introduced to address the shortage of small denomination coins in circulation at the time. The ½ Guinea coin was specifically designed to be equal in value to half of a Guinea coin, which was a popular gold coin that was widely used in trade and commerce. By introducing the ½ Guinea coin, James II aimed to make gold coins more accessible to the general population and to stimulate economic activity.
