5 Guineas - George II Older portrait

The five guinea piece was effectively moribund by this point — too heavy for convenient use, too valuable for ordinary commerce, and progressively being displaced by the lighter guinea in everyday transactions among the merchant class. These late issues under George II were struck in tiny quantities, more as prestige objects and gifts than functioning currency. The older portrait was introduced after the existing effigy was deemed insufficiently dignified for a king now well into his sixties.

PROOF and proof-like strikes are known for several dates in this run, almost certainly produced for presentation purposes at court.