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1 Guinea - George III 3rd portrait
| Issuer | Royal Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1765-1773 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | KM#600, Sp#3727 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A crowned quartered shield at centre bearing the heraldic arms of England and Scotland (quarterly), France, Ireland, and Hanover, the whole surmounted by an ornate crown. The date is divided and appears above the shield on either side. The royal titles are inscribed in a continuous Latin legend around the periphery, separated by pellet stops. The heraldic rendering is precise and typical of Georgian-era guinea coinage, with bold relief on the escutcheon and fine detail on the crown. |
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| Additional information |
The third portrait of George III on the guinea was modeled by Richard Yeo, who served as chief engraver at the Tower Mint until his death in 1779. These guineas circulated heavily during a period when British monetary policy was under acute strain — the Seven Years' War had ended in 1763, leaving substantial Crown debt, and gold coin was being systematically melted or exported as silver coinage collapsed in real value relative to bullion prices.
By the early 1770s, worn guineas of this type were so prevalent that the Royal Mint undertook a formal survey of circulation coin quality — a precursor to the eventual great recoinage debates of the following decade.