Two Guinea Piece: George III (obverse); Shield of Arms (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.210)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1773
This very rare piece is another example of the fine patterns being produced at this period. With the coming reform of the coinage, the five- and two-guinea pieces do not appear again for general circulation. John Sigismund Tanner came to England in 1728, was appointed chief engraver in 1741 and died in 1775. He was responsible for a large number of pattern coins and for most of the second "old head" type of currency coins issued during the reign of George II. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.210: Two Guinea Piece: George III (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse), 1773. Design by John Sigismund Tanner (British, 1705–1775). Gold; diameter: 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.). Inscribed: DEI . GRA . GEORGIVS . III . (George III by the grace of God); M B F ET H REX F D B ET L D S R I A T ET 1773 (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 year this coin was minted, colonists in Boston raided three British ships throwing several hundred chests of tea into the harbor.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold
Design
- Inscriptions
- DEI . GRA . GEORGIVS . III . (George III by the grace of God); M B F ET H REX F D B ET L D S R I A T ET 1773 (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
- 1773
- Culture period
- England, George III, 1760-1820
- Maker recorded
- John Sigismund Tanner (British, 1705–1775)
- Museum attribution
- John Sigismund Tanner (British, 1705–1775)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.210
- 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. 67
- 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.