1787 Gold Proof Spade Guinea
COIN
1787 Gold Proof Spade Guinea
PRICE
$ 19,000
STATUS
Sold November 2016
QUALITY
FDC
PROVENANCE
Private Collection Sydney
COMMENTS
That proof coining is a tradition that goes back centuries is exemplified in this superb 1787 George III Gold Proof Spade Guinea. Struck in the year the First Fleet sailed from British shores, the coin has superb detail, brilliant mirror fields and shows extensive die striations from meticulous die polishing. Qualities that are the hallmark of proof coining.
This piece is a proof striking of a Proclamation coin. As such it is highly historical and extremely important to collectors of early Australiana. Moreover it is rare.
To add further to its appeal, 1787 was the sole year in which the Spade Guinea was coined as a proof.
The Spade Guinea was one of many coins that filtered their way into the penal colony of New South Wales and which would eventually be given an official local value by order of Governor Gidley King under the Proclamation of 1800. The Spade guinea was proclaimed as having a local value of £1 2s.
The gold Spade Guinea was a symbol of solid wealth; the coin taking its name from the shape of its shield, which was thought to resemble the mouth of a spade.
CONTACT
PO Box 1060 Hawksburn Victoria Australia 3142
© Copyright: Coinworks
