Losnummer 20413. The Rarest 5 Guinea Issue of James IIStruck with Gold from the Royal African CompanyGREAT BRITAIN. 5 Guineas, 1688. London Mint. James II. NGC AU-58.S-3398; Fr-293; KM-460.2. Elephant & Castle issue, second bust. Obverse: Laureate bust left; elephant & castle below; Reverse: Crowned cruciform coats-of-arms, with scepter in each quarter; scepters surmounted by orb, lis, harp, and thistle. An immensely attractive and lustrous example, this impressive specimen exhibits just the slightest degree of handling, thus preventing a Mint State designation. Nevertheless, it remains an extensively sought after issue in any grade, especially this alluring. The problem free surfaces offer originality and a charming hint of a golden-orange tone. On par with a similar piece, an NGC AU-58, which realized $64,625 in our 2013 ANA auction (sale 176, lot 20210).The interesting mark of an elephant & castle below the bust of James indicated the source of the gold used in the striking of the coin. Issues with the elephant (and later, elephant & castle) were produced with gold mined in Western Africa along what was known as the "Gold Coast." The Royal African Company was issued a monopoly by the British crown to extract, among other things, gold for the production of coinage domestically within the kingdom. The name for the denomination--along with its multiples--eventually came from this very region--Guinea. The issues are rather difficult to encounter now as many were melted over the centuries for the purpose of recoining.In the context of the birth of the Guinea denomination, read more about this item in our Coin of the Week blog post, here.In the context of the Glorious Revolution, read more about this item in our Coin of the Week blog post, here.Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000.Provenance: From the Marlborough-Blenheim Collection.Click here for certification details from NGC.