Guinea

List of Charles II Guineas - List of Charles II Guineas with Description, images, mintages, history and info for coin collectors and investors.

1703 Guinea – Queen Anne VIGO - Most 1703 coins do not have the VIGO mark below the bust. The VIGO means that the metal used was from Spanish bullion seized in Vigo Bay by an Anglo-Dutch expedition. This is a rare coin.

1664 Two Guineas – Charles II - The Reverse shows crowned cruciform coats-of-arms with sceptres in the  quarters and a design of four interlocked monograms in the centre. There are variants.

1688 Guineas – James II - 1688 Gold Guinea of James II (written on coin as IACOBVS II). Second bust. Tower Mint, London. The Reverse is four crowned shields cruciform with sceptres in angles.

1695 Half-Guinea – William III - William III Gold Half-Guinea, minted at the Tower Mint, London in 1695. Diameter 21mm. The Obverse shows a portrait of William III (in Latin as GVLIELMVS III).

1678 Guinea – Charles II - The reverse shows a crowned cruciform coats-of-arms with sceptres in the quarters and a design of four interlocked monograms in the centre. The coin shows the designs of John Roettier.

1808 Half-Guinea ‘Military Type’ – George III - The Half-Guinea minted 1804-1813 (SCBC 3737) featured the same bust design as the 'Military' Guinea, so-called as it was used by the British government to pay the army for fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.

1813 Guinea – ‘Military’ Guinea - 80,000 coins were specially minted by the British government to pay the army for fighting in the Napoleonic Wars (namely Wellington's army in the Pyrenees), hence the term 'Military'.

The Quarter-Guinea and Other Problems - The Quarter-Guinea was only issued twice: once in 1718 by George I, and once in 1762 by George III. Both times it was a means to an end, and the end wasn't exactly successful. This is the story of the Quarter Guinea, it's problems and how Sir Isaac Newton moved from a bi-metallic standard towards the Gold standard to prevent a run on silver.