James II gold 5 Guineas 1688 MS60 PCGS, KM460.1, S-3397. A truly outstanding 5 Guineas! The visual allure of this offering far transcends its technical quality; its certified grade resides in the lower Mint State category yet its eye appeal takes the viewer's breath away. Whereas one is used to this denomination exhibiting softness to the highpoints, gentle subdued luster and heavy handling, this piece boasts intensely reflective Prooflike surfaces, an immaculate and razor sharp portrait of James and no significant marks whatsoever. A fiery orange-red patina plays across the planchet bolstering the aesthetic effect even further. Truly, the appearance of this piece is leaps and abounds above average for the type and deserves particular collector attention. The last example of this date we handled was graded AU55 PCGS and realized $40,800 in our August 2019 sale; this far finer specimen must surely elicit significantly keener interest.

HID09801242017

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