The 1/3 guinea denomination had a troubled commercial history — the fraction proved awkward in everyday transactions and the denomination was eventually abandoned, only briefly revived in the early 19th century for professional fees, particularly medical. This 1775 piece exists as a pattern, meaning the Royal Mint was testing whether to reintroduce the denomination after a long gap. The answer, at that moment, was no.
The 1/3 guinea denomination had a troubled commercial history — the fraction proved awkward in everyday transactions and the denomination was eventually abandoned, only briefly revived in the early 19th century for professional fees, particularly medical. This 1775 piece exists as a pattern, meaning the Royal Mint was testing whether to reintroduce the denomination after a long gap. The answer, at that moment, was no.