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Five Guineas: George II (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)

1746
gold
Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
Weight: 41.907 g (1.48 oz.)
The Norweb Collection 1969.208
Location: not on view
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Did You Know?

The crowned quartered shield of arms represents from right to left, top to bottom, a framed lion for Scotland, France with fleurs de lys, Ireland with harp, and two lions for Brunswick, among others.

Description

A new bust now appears on the coinage showing the king as an older man. The word LIMA that appears below the bust on this year only, refers to bullion captured by Admiral Anson from a Spanish plate fleet at Manila during his circumnavigation of the globe (1739–43). It also probably includes bullion supplied by a number of privateers operating against the Spanish plate fleets in the Atlantic. Why the actual word "Lima" was chosen to mark this supply of bullion has never been satisfactorily explained. The mint record book of the period simply records a warrant being issued for the inclusion of the word.
Five Guineas: George II (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)

Five Guineas: George II (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)

1746

England, George II, 1727-1760

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