Five Guineas: George II (obverse); Shield of Arms (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.207)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1731
This coin was probably struck as a proof. Under George II the same denominations of coinage appeared as in previous reigns since the coinage reform of 1662. The elephant, or elephant and castle no longer appear on the obverse.
In 1729 the initials E I C appeared below the head on some of the five guineas, and on the guinea and half guinea of other dates. These signify that the coins were struck for the East India Company, or from gold sent by that company for coining at the Royal Mint. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.207: Five Guineas: George II (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse), 1731. England, George II, 1727-1760. Gold; diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.).
Inscribed: GEORGIVS . II . DEI . GRATIA . (George II by the Grace of God); M.B.F.E.T.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E.1731. (Magnae Britanniae Franciae ET Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor Brun ET Lunebergen-sis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-Thesaurius ET Elector: King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire). Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The shield shows from top right to bottom left: England and Scotland, France, Ireland, and the Electorate.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold
Design
- Inscriptions
- GEORGIVS . II . DEI . GRATIA . (George II by the Grace of God); M.B.F.E.T.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E.1731. (Magnae Britanniae Franciae ET Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor Brun ET Lunebergen-sis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-Thesaurius ET Elector: King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire)
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1731
- Culture period
- England, George II, 1727-1760
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.207
- Published references
- Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. [Catalog. 1968. p. 64
- Museum classification
- Coins
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider coin type and standard catalogue references against numismatic literature.