George II, 1727-1760

Five Guineas, 1729. Initials of the East India Company, E.I.C. below first young laureate bust left, Latin legend with pellet stops surrounding, GEORGIVS. II. DEI. GRATIA. translates as “George II by the Grace of God” toothed border surrounding / Crowned quartered shield of arms, date either side of top crown, abbreviated Latin legend, .M. B. F. ET. H. REX. F. D. B. ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T. ET. E. translates as “King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire” toothed border surrounding, edge inscribed in raised letters DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI TERTIO, translates as “An ornament and a safeguard, in the third year of the reign”. 41,70g. Bull 553 (this coin illustrated); GH 82; S. 3664.

NGC UNC DETAILS REV REPAIRED (2113951-062) Extremely fine.

Provenance:
Purchased from A.H. Baldwin in Summer 2006.

GH : 189 specimens known. The gold used to strike this coin was supplied by the East India Company which initial letters appear on obverse. This company received a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth in 1600, making it the oldest among several similarly formed European East India Companies. Wealthy merchants and aristocrats owned the Company’s shares. The government owned no shares and had only indirect control. The company eventually came to rule large areas of India with its own private armies, exercising military power and assuming administrative functions. Company rule in India effectively began in 1757 after the Battle of Plassey and lasted until 1858 when, following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Government of India Act let to the British Crown to assume direct control of India.