Five Guineas: George II (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)
Unknown Artist
1731
Medium
gold
Dimensions
diam. 3.7 cm
Classification
Coins
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Norweb Collection
Accession Number
1969.207
About this artwork
This coin was probably struck as a proof. Under George II the same denominations of coinage appeared as in previous reigns since the coinage reform of 1662. The elephant, or elephant and castle no longer appear on the obverse. In 1729 the initials E I C appeared below the head on some of the five guineas, and on the guinea and half guinea of other dates. These signify that the coins were struck for the East India Company, or from gold sent by that company for coining at the Royal Mint.