Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 26776 - America 250th Anniversary Sale Ft. Coins, Medals, Banknotes, Objets de Vertu & Ephemera
Lot: 12

James II (1685-1688), 'Royal African Company' 'Elephant and Castle' Guinea, 1686, IACOBVS • II • DEI • GRATIA, first laureate head left, leaves buried in wreath, E&C below, rev. 16-86 • MAG • BR • FRA • ET • HIB REX •, crowned shields cruciform, six strings to harp, edge obliquely milled, 8.30g (MCE -; EGC I -; Schneider II, -; Farey 275; S.3401), honey-toned, otherwise strictly fine, the variety unknown to Bull, extremely rare thus

Provenance

Spink, by private treaty, 14 March 1974 - "unpublished for this date" - £500


On Saturday, March 9, 1974, Judith Speir brought this Guinea to the British Museum to confirm it as a first head type of the year 1686, and therefore unpublished type.




James II's brief reign was marked by an attempt to tighten Royal control over the American colonies. As Duke of York, he had already been proprietor of New York before becoming King. Once on the throne he sought to consolidate England's northern colonies into a single, more governable unit. In 1686, he created the Dominion of New England, merging Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and later New York and New Jersey into one administrative structure. This proved deeply unpopular as it sought to strip colonists of long-held self-governing traditions.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
$1,000 to $1,500

Starting price
$1000