James II gold 5 Guineas 1686 AU58 NGC, KM460.1, S-3396. SECVNDO edge, denoting the second year of James's reign. Certainly not an offering to be taken lightly! The 5 Guinea pieces of James II were only struck for three years (in 1686, 1687 and 1688) and arguably the rarest of these are those produced in 1686. The present example represents only the 7th of the type to be offered in the last 20 years, not to mention it also boasting the single highest grade of just 5 seen by NGC with none having been graded by PCGS. Despite this elite ranking in the population report, one is still inclined to believe it has been conservatively graded, bearing light contact marks but no noticeable wear to even the highest points of the designs. Boldly struck, with abundant luster giving an almost prooflike sheen to the fields behind the crisp portrait, a coin with exceptional eye appeal and a must-have for the selective collector of the British 5 Guinea series. The last example we sold, an AU53 NGC, realized $36,000 in January of this year and we can only speculate as to the excitement this far finer specimen will generate.

HID99912102018