George III (1760-1820), gold Guinea, 1787, fifth laureate head right, GEORGIVS .III. DEI.GRATIA, rev. spade shaped crowned quartered shield of arms, date below, legend reads in abbreviated Latin commencing lower left M.B.F. ET. H. REX. F.D. B.ET. L. D. S. R. I. A. T ET. E., 8.37g (MCE 391; EGC 711; S.3729). Highly lustrous with very few handling marks, extremely fine, an appealing specimen of this first-year ‘spade’ Guinea type.

The Latin legends translate to on obverse "George III by the Grace of God" continuing on the reverse in abbreviated Latin which if shown in full reads "Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor Brun et Lunebergen-sis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-Thesaurius et Elector" and translates as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

Estimate: £800 - £1,000