Lot 1081
Lot 31081 > George I gold 5 Guineas 1716 MS60 NGC, KM547, S-3626. A truly exceptional example of George I's first 5 Guineas, essentially unseen in Mint State and generally residing at mid-AU levels or, usually, much lower. When one considers the 5 Guinea series as a whole, one sees George I pieces appear at auction far less frequently than others; indeed, it may well be the most difficult type to obtain in any grade. This issue was somewhat shallowly engraved and habitually softly struck, and as such to encounter an example of this sharpness and quality is extremely unusual. George's portrait is fully rendered and free from wear, its surrounding fields glossy and gently reflective. Besides a minor edge flaw and light contact in the fields, this piece is immaculate and seemingly worthy of an even higher MS grade. However, besides its technical quality it is its toning which steals the show, blazing red iridescence flooding the peripheries of the obverse and the entirety of the reverse, blending with the original luster and creating an intense rosy brightness. Gold, being so unreactive, rarely develops such an appealing and vibrant patina and always generates considerable admiration when it does. Only one other 1716 example has been more highly certified than this in NGC's census with the next highest graded AU50. Additionally, auction record shows just one Mint State specimen of George I's 5 Guineas of any year having been sold within the last two decades, an MS61 graded 1717-dated piece which realized over $130,000 hammer in January of this year. Accordingly, it is fair to say that even the uppermost-tier of British collections likely lack a Mint State George I 5 Guineas, and as such dedicated collectors should not miss their chance to obtain this beloved denomination in such an impressive grade. A veritable numismatic prize of unbeatable eye appeal and near unbeatable quality, and sure to find its place in an elite assemblage of British gold.
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