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Auction: 22027 - The "Ellerby Area" Hoard of English Gold Coins
Lot: 132

The Remarkable "Ellerby Area" Hoard of English Gold Coins (1610-1727) | William and Mary (1688-1694), Guinea, 1689, conjoined laureate busts right, rev. crowned shield, five strings to later upright harp, edge obliquely milled, 8.16g [125.9grns], 6h (PAS: YORYM-18E848 = BM 2019 T668/115 this coin; MCE 148; Farey 312 [ER]; EGC 360 [Reverse Type 2w(4N2)]; Spink 3426), a small dent to left of shield, otherwise strictly fair / fine, with NGC 'Ellerby' Certification (#6380983-115)

An observation for those interested in checking their coins against the listing in English Gold Coins. For the Guineas of William and Mary, Bull describes fifteen different varieties of arms on the reverse. This is in addition to the many letter and date varieties. He explains 'This was a reign of high output of Guineas from the mint judging by the huge variety of obverse and reverse dies discovered. However, to simplify this publication only the more obvious and important varieties are recorded and illustrated.' This is his reverse type 2w (4N2). On page 263 he lists for the year 1689 twelve of his fifteen reverse types (together with one other, type 1n, which he does not even describe), saying they are 'some of the reverses found with this obverse'. This coin, with reverse type 2w (4n2) is listed here. It is a little confusing as he gives this as a 'prime example' saying it is for 'Bull 366 - 1689', but Bull 366 is 1690, and 1689 is Bull 360. However, the point is that there are at least fifteen or sixteen varieties of reverse, and in the numbered listing by date Bull will not attempt to list them all. This is reasonable since there is no rarity scale for these different reverses (yet!), so in the final analysis it really does not matter.

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Sold for
£2,500

Starting price
£450