1 Guinea - William and Mary 1692-1693 front 1 Guinea - William and Mary 1692-1693 back
1 Guinea - William and Mary 1692-1693 photo
© Heritage Auctions

1 Guinea - William and Mary

 
Gold (.917) 8.39 g 25.5 mm
Description
Issuer
England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)
Ruling authority
William III, Mary II (1689-1694)
Type
Standard circulation coin
Years
1692-1693
Value
1 Guinea (43⁄40)
Currency
Pound sterling (1158-1970)
Composition
Gold (.917)
Weight
8.39 g
Diameter
25.5 mm
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
Orientation
Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-08
References
Numista
N#130274
Rarity index
100%

Reverse

Crowned quartered shield of arms with central Nassau lion, divided date above, legend around.

Script: Latin

Lettering: MAG·BR·FR·ET·HIB·REX·ET·REGINA·16 92·

Translation: King and Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland

Engravers: James Roettier, Norbert Roettier

Edge

Milled

Comment

The guinea was a gold coin that was minted in Great Britain between 1663 and 1814. The name came from the Guinea region in West Africa, where much of the gold used to make the coins originated. They were struck at 44½ to the pound troy, giving a standard weight of 24/89 troy ounce (129.4 grains).

Obverse varieties exist with either no mark (Sp#3426) or elephant and castle (Sp#3427) below the conjoined busts.

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the 1 Guinea - William and Mary 1692-1693 coin is that it was the first coin to feature the iconic "St. George and the Dragon" design, which has been a recurring motif on British coins for centuries.