1670 Half-Guinea – Charles II


The 1670 Half-Guinea - Charles II

Gold Half-Guines of Charles II dated 1670 and minted at the Tower (London) Mint. SCBC 3347.

The Obverse shows a portrait of Charles II (on coin as Carolus II). First bust, laureate facing right. Legend reads "CAROLVS · II · DEI · GRATIA".

The Reverse shows a crowned cruciform coat-of-arms design, with scrpres in the angles. Interlocking C's in centre. Legend is "MAG · BR · FRA · ET · HIB · REX · 16 70".

This coin graded as VF and classed as rare.

Image credit: CNG Coins


Mintage: Not known
Minted at The Royal Mint.
Charles II (1660-1685)
Charles II was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. He was king of Scotland from 1649 until his deposition in 1651, and king of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death.

The regnal years used on Charles II coins were:
1668:VICESIMO; 1669:VICESIMO PRIMO; 1670:VICESIMO SECVNDO; 1671:VICESIMO TERTIO; 1672:VICESIMO QVARTO; 1673:VICESIMO QVINTO; 1674:VICESIMO SEXTO; 1675:VICESIMO SEPTIMO; 1676:VICESIMO OCTAVO; 1677:VICESIMO NONO; 1678:TRICESIMO; 1679:TRICESIMO PRIMO; 1680:TRICESIMO SECVNDO; 1681:TRICESIMO TERTIO; 1682:TRICESIMO QVARTO; 1683:TRICESIMO QVINTO; 1684:TRICESIMO SEXTO.

Charles II coins usually use the latin spelling: Carolus II.
Category: Guineas

The Guinea is a famous British gold coin minted between 1663 and 1814. The coin was originally created as a one pound coin (20 shillings) but is better known as being worth One Pound and One Shilling (21 shillings).

After the English Civil War, King Charles II introduced new coinage. A gold coin, approximately a quarter of an ounce, was issued and for the first time it was not hammered. Made by machine using gold from the Guinea Coast of West Africa the coin probably became the most important coin of the realm.

Originally 20 shillings, the coin actually fluctuated with the gold price, at times being as high as 30 shillings. In 1717 the Guinea became fixed at 21 shillings (in today’s money that is £1.05). Other coins of the family were also minted, such as half-guinea, two-guinea and five-guinea.

The design of gold guinea changed dramatically over the years, from depictions of crowned cruciform shields to the ‘Spade’ shaped crowned shields of arms.

In the Great Recoinage of 1816 the Guinea was replaced by the Pound and the Sovereign became the gold coin in use. The last guinea was issued during the reign of King George III in 1813. That particular coin is known as a ‘Military’ guinea, as it was specially struck to pay British troops at the time of the Napoleonic Wars.

Long after the Guinea was retired the name continued to be used, especially for prestige purchases intended for the more wealthy. Even now racehorses are still sold in Guineas (the auctioneer traditionally taking the 5p as commission).

Guineas are 25mm in diameter, weigh about 8.38g and are 22 carat gold (91.6%). Prior to 1717 they weighed slightly less (around 8.3g) and were made of 91.34% gold.

Millions of gold guineas were minted and widely circulated, so often turn up in fine to very fine condition. As with all coin types, some years are much rarer than others, such as the 1761 guinea (as it was the first guinea minted during the reign of King George III).

Which Mint: The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the designated place for the UK to mint coins. It dates back well over 1000 years and is a Government-owned company. 

Formed in the reign of Alfred the Great about the year 886, during the period 1279-1812 it was generally referred to as The Tower Mint as it was housed at the Tower of London. The Master of The Royal Mint has included famous figures such as Sir Isaac Newton.

Since 2010 it has operated as Royal Mint Ltd, a company owned by HM Treasury, under an exclusive contract to supply all coinage for the UK although it also produces medals and coins for other countries. It is currently located at Llantrisant, Wales.
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
The United Kingdom (UK) is the Union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is often refered to as Great Britain (GBR). It has a long, rich history.

The orignal coinage was Pounds, Shillings and Pence but since decimalisation on 15 February 1971, it is £1 = 100p, that is One Pound = 100 pence. The coinage of the UK is also a long history, the Royal Mint being established as long ago as 886AD when coins were hammered. Today there is perhaps 30 billion coins in circulation, and many (numismatic) collectors coins and sets are issued frequently in gold, silver and other metals.
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Charles II 1677 Full Guinea 22ct Gold
Charles II 1677 Full Guinea 22ct Gold
£ 1,050.00
1677 Charles II Gold Guinea . Fourth portrait .
1677 Charles II Gold Guinea . Fourth portrait .
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1680 CHARLES II GOLD FULL GUINEA F
1680 CHARLES II GOLD FULL GUINEA F
£ 975.00
KING CHARLES THE II 1664 TWO GOLD GUINEA....
KING CHARLES THE II 1664 TWO GOLD GUINEA....
£ 7,350.00
1682 GUINEA CHARLES II
1682 GUINEA CHARLES II
£ 2,150.00
VERY RARE KING CHARLES THE II 1664 GOLD GUINEA....
VERY RARE KING CHARLES THE II 1664 GOLD GUINEA....
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Charles II Gold Guinea, First Reign of the Guinea, Third Bust, 1668
Charles II Gold Guinea, First Reign of the Guinea, Third Bust, 1668
£ 2,100.00
1679 Britain England Charles II Gold Guinea Coin 1G - Certified PCGS VF Details
1679 Britain England Charles II Gold Guinea Coin 1G - Certified PCGS VF Details
£ 1,484.86

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