Losnummer 94. William and Mary (1688-94), gold Half Guinea, 1691, elephant and castle below second conjoined busts right, Latin legend surrounding, GVLIELMVS. ET. MARIA. DEI. GRATIA, toothed border around rim both sides, rev. second crowned quartered shield of arms, Lion of Nassau as an escutcheon at centre, date either side of crown, .MAG. BR. FR. ET. HIB. REX. ET. REGINA., 4.15g (Bull EGC 387 R2; MCE 164; S.3431). Small flan crack across GRATIA, a couple of peck marks and some wear both sides, toned very fine and rare, graded by NGC as XF45. NGC Certification 8221134-002 The year 1691 represents the second lowest calendar year output of gold coin across all the denominations that year and was perhaps a result of a fluctuating gold and silver price level as war had broken out with France in 1689. The total output for the year was £54,497. The elephant and castle provenance mark is indicative of being issued by the "Royal African Company of England" as it had been so reconstructed by the Duke of York from 1672. The "R.A.C." was quite a success trading with Africa and the New World through the 1670s and 1680s. For further reading see the new publication by Graham Birch "The Metal in Britain's Coins" Chapter Three - The Royal African Company and the Golden Guineas p.33-57.