Five Guineas: George II (obverse); Shield of Arms (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.208)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1746
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. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.208: Five Guineas: George II (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse), 1746.
England, George II, 1727-1760. Gold; diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.). Inscribed: DEI . GRATIA . GEORGIVS . II; below: LIMA. (George the Second by the Grace of God); M·B·F·ET·H·REX·F·D·B·ET·L·D·S·R·I·A·T·ET·E·17 46· (King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg, Arch 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 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.
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
- DEI . GRATIA . GEORGIVS . II; below: LIMA. (George the Second by the Grace of God); M·B·F·ET·H·REX·F·D·B·ET·L·D·S·R·I·A·T·ET·E·17 46· (King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg, Arch Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire)
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1746
- Culture period
- England, George II, 1727-1760
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.208
- 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. 65
- 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.