George III gold Proof Pattern 2 Guineas 1768 PR65 S Cameo NGC, KM-Pn49, S-3724, W&R-79, Schneider-Unl. Plain edge. By J.S. Tanner. An incredible masterpiece of 18th century British engraving and one that was clearly treasured from the time of its production to now. Reportedly one of a mere 11-20 specimens known, the rarity of this piece comes by virtue of its peculiar historical circumstances. One of only three dates that 2 Guinea patterns were produced during George's reign, coins such as the present represented an attempt to strike larger gold pieces for circulation at a time when the overvaluation of British gold had left it as virtually the only metal available domestically, while undervalued silver and copper coins were sold abroad. Although the Guinea's half and quarter fractions managed to fill the needs of local smaller scale exchange, such large pieces as the proposed 2 and 5 Guineas simply retained too great of a purchasing power to be of any practical use at home, and thus production was never expanded beyond a handful of trial pieces. Of those incredibly few surviving specimens, the present examples endures as our sixth instance we've handled in the last decade alone, none of which have approached this awe-inspiring representatives preservation and aesthetic caliber. Seemingly worthy of an "Ultra Cameo" designation were it not for the wholly attractive, abundant die polish populating the reverse. Regardless, Tanner's recreation of George III on this reflective golden expanse is uncontested with the addition of a coveted "star" and as such demands the attention a quality-conscious collector.

HID09801242017

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