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Thursday 30 May 2013

102) Commemorating the 100th Birth Anniversary of Christopher Ironside (July1913-July 1992) with his "Royal Arms" design on a 50 pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, U.K.



102) Commemorating the 100th Birth Anniversary of Christopher Ironside (July1913-July 1992) with his "Royal Arms" design on a 50 pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, U.K., in 2013:

Christopher Ironside’s early Career and as an eminent coin designer:

Christopher Ironside was born on 11.07.1913.

He studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts after which he worked variously as a painter, sculptor, draughtsman, designer and teacher.

During World War II, he worked at the Directorate of Camouflage and the Art Ministry in Leamington Spa. After the war he worked at the Ministry of Town and Country Planning, then as education officer for for the Council of Industrial Design from 1946 to 1948.

He taught at the Maidstone School of Art and worked with his brother on theatrical design and postage stamps.

Only in his middle age, did Ironside start working on numismatic design when he was awarded a Royal Mint commission in 1962 to design UK’s decimal coins. That project was on and off until 1968, but in the meantime, he found time to design  coins for other countries being finalised by the Royal Mint.

Ironside designed various coins for the Royal Mint, including the reverses of the 50 pence, 10 pence, 5 pence, two pence, one penny and the former half penny coins.

He is also credited with the designing of commemorative medallions including the Britannia Commemorative Society’s Medallion No. 7 “The Spanish Armada” and No.42 “The Royal Navy”, a medal for the 1974 Centenary of Sir Winston Churchill’s birth “This was Their Finest Hour”, a brass relief memorial for the Earl and Countess Mountbatten in Westminster Abbey and a Brass relief for the 16th Duke of Norfolk in Fitzalan Chapel in Arundel Castle.

 Ironside, also, designed coins for several other countries, as well as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

He was awarded the OBE in 1971.

Christopher Ironside’s contribution to Britain’s decimal coinage:

In 1960, it was mooted that coins of the United Kingdom (U.K.) would be decimalised. The pound which hitherto comprised 20 shillings (or 240 pence), would, after decimalization be worth 100 pence.

In 1961, a Committee of Inquiry was appointed to consider ways and means for a smooth transition into the new decimalised currency. Naturally, it was required that the entire coinage goes through a major redesigning process.

In 1962, When the implementation of decimal coinage was a near  certainty, no official announcement was made, but the Royal Mint wanted to be prepared for decimalization as and when decimal coinage was implemented in the U.K.

Accordingly, various artistic Institutions like the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Faculty of the Royal Designers for Industry and the RCA were asked in strict secrecy to invite eminent artists to submit designs for the new decimal currency. Ironside worked on the combined RDI/RCA team, working on his own designs.

 From 1962 to 1966, Christopher Ironside worked tirelessly to make several designs for the decimalised coinage.

However, in 1966, the secret programme came to an abrupt halt when it was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons that Britain would introduce the decimal coinage shortly, however, the announcement came with a catch – the coin designs would be selected after an open competition for the designs.

Ever optimistic, Ironside prepared designs for the open competition in which the designs were displayed anonymously before the Royal Mint Advisory Committee which was judging two major competitions. Every design was studied meticulously by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, before the final designs were announced to the public.

Ironside’s designs won convincingly for the reverse sides. Some modifications in his selected designs were suggested by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, which he worked on meticulously, till his modified designs were finally approved for minting.

With hundreds of millions of coins being produced at the Royal Mint, designing of coins, provided Ironside a unique opportunity to showcase his talent at conceptualizing and designing of several coins.

Ironside is said to have written in an article published in 1969 which inter alia mentioned:

“The work of a great many artists who are geniuses is never recognized and probably eventually disappears. But if one is a coin designer, one’s work lasts possibly long after death, everyone becomes familiar with it and it forms a small part of the history of the country for which it was designed, and one becomes famous. Not because one is a genius, or a saint or a monster, but simply because one is a coin designer”.

He passed away in July 1992.

In 2008, Ironside’s extensive design portfolio was given to the British Museum where it has been exhibited for posterity. Several of Ironside’s drawings, notebooks, plaster models etc. have been exhibited in the British Museum showcasing his methods of conceptualizing a coin design to its final appearance on U.K. coins.

The Commemorative Coin brought out by the Royal Mint, U.K.:

Ironside’s famous design of Britannia was adopted for the 50 p (pence) in 1969. He submitted several designs to the Royal Mint at the time the decimal coinage was being put in place. This design of the Royal Arms was adjudged second-best to his winning design of Britannia.

Ironside’s second-best design was equally liked by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee members who had expressed a desire that trial pieces of that design should also be made in case the design could be used at a later date.

The Royal Mint Advisory Committee’s wish has come true with Ironside’s design featuring the Royal Arms being placed on the 50p commemorative coin brought out by the Royal Mint U.K. on his Birth Centenary, 44 years after this design was created by Ironside.
To honour the 100th Anniversary of his birth, the “Royal Arms” Design, that was much admired by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, but was never struck, has been placed on the reverse of this Commemorative coin for the first time. 




These images are from the BU Annual coins set 2013, received by me from the Royal Mint U.K.
The reverse of this 50p coin, features the Royal Arms design of Christopher Ironside. The Royal Arms appear in the centre of this coin with the words “Fifty Pence” on the upper periphery and the numeral “50” on the bottom of the coin. (In Ironside’s design the words “NEW PENCE” had featured, since a new decimal coinage was being introduced in the 1970s, which has been amended to “FIFTY PENCE” on this coin).

The obverse has the familiar Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait facing right by Ian Rank-Broadley.The peripheral inscription reads" ELIZABETH II, D.G. REG. F.D. 2013" (Elizabeth II, By the Grace of God Queen, Defender of the Faith").

A picture of Christopher Ironside with the obverse of the 50 pence commemorative coin in the centre
The specifications of this coin are:

Metal Composition: Cupro-Nickel (75% copper,25% nickel);Weight: 8 gms; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated; Diameter: 27.30 mm; Shape: seven sided or equilaterally curved heptagon; Edge: Plain.

Other interesting facts about the 50 pence coin:

-      The first 50 p coin (nicknamed fifty pee”) was issued on 14.10.1969. The original reverse of the coin designed by Christopher Ironside depicted a seated Britannia alongside a Lion. For the sake of differentiating the decimal issues from the coinage in circulation, the words “NEW PENCE” (1969-1981) or “FIFTY PENCE” thereafter, above the Britannia image were used, with the numeral “50” below the seated figure. The coin replaced the ten shilling Note.

-      Despite the coin’s unique heptagonal shape, initially there was some confusion among users and the coin was mistaken for both the old half crown and the new ten pence coins.

-      Between 1969-1997, the 50 p coin weighed 13.5 gms and had a diameter of 30.0 mm. The old size 50 p coins ceased to be legal tender from 28.02.1998.

-      The seated Britannia design of Ironside featured on the large 50 p coins in the following years: 1969 -1972, 1974-1981 and then 1982-1984, 1985-1993, 1995-1997 (1971-1972, 1974-1975, 1986-1993 and 1995-1997 were issued in collector’s sets only, as the usage of the 50 p coins decreased with the issue of one pound coins in 1983 which replaced the one pound notes and due to inflationary pressures.

-      On 01.09.1997, the present smaller dimensions of the coin given under the commemorative coin above were introduced.

-      From 1997, the smaller sized 50 p coins were issued. 





Obverse of the 50 pence coin showing Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait facing right together with the year of issue “1997”. On the Periphery is mentioned “ELIZABETH II D.G. REG. F.D.” (“Elizabeth II , By the grace of God, Regina – Queen – Defender of the Faith”).






   Reverse of the seated Britannia coin with the shield, trident and the lion alongside facing right, designed by Ironside, issued in 1997 by the Royal Mint, U.K. for general circulation. This coin was collected by me during my London trip during the Christmas vacations in December 2006.  It is among the first of the smaller sized coins issued in 1997, which were minted in very large numbers because the earlier larger 50 p issues were to be withdrawn from 20.02.1998.

-      The seated Britannia design of Ironside figured on 50 p coins issued in 1997 to 2008 in which year Matthew Dent’s design of the Royal shield spread over the smaller denomination coins below 1 and 2 pounds was implemented with the bottom apex of the Royal Shield being shown on the 50 p coins.

-      Miscellaneous trivia:

-      Given below are images of a one penny and a half penny coins featuring a Britannia design, issued during the reign of George V.






-      Ironside’s design had added a Lion alongside the seated Britannia and repositioned the trident held by Britannia and made Britannia lean back somewhat to give her a more Regal bearing.

World-wide recognition of Christopher Ironside’s designs/work as a coin designer:

In addition to the above, Ironside, also, designed coins for several other countries, as well as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Organisation (UNO):

Bahrain, Qatar Abu Dhabi and Dubai (1965):

In 1965, Ironside submitted three sets of designs to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee for a joint currency for Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai:     –   one design set depicting each denomination within its own geometric Arabic design,

the second set depicted variously, a goitred Arabian gazelle (which is now extinct), a peregrine falcon, a local fish, a mosque, an Arab Dhow, oil derricks and a date palm,

while the third set represented Arabic designs.

None of these sets was taken up further, but Qatar and Dubai showed interest in some of his designs.

Qatar and Dubai (1966):

In the mid 1960s, Qatar and Dubai entered a separate Currency Union, and their joint currency was issued in 1966. On the reverse, a design of a goitred gazelle designed by Ironside appeared on all their Dirham coins.

Tanzania (1966):

Tanzania’s first coinage after becoming an independent country came out in 1966. The designs on all the Shillingi and Senti coins, including the portrait of President Nyrere on the obverse and African Wildlife animals on the reverse, were made by Ironside. 

Brunei (1967):

In 1967, Ironside designed the reverses of all Brunei sen coins, representing a flower (1 sen), a bird in flight (5 sen), a land animal (10 sen), a tree (20 sen) and the Brunei Coat of Arms (50 sen), brought out by the Brunei Currency Board.

 Jamaica (1969):

Jamaica released its first decimal coinage in 1969, with all the reverse designs (except 50 cents and ½ penny), being made by Ironside. The obverse showed the Jamaican Coat of Arms with National symbols on the reverse – Ackee fruit which is, also, the National Fruit (1 cent), American Crocodile (5 cents), Butterfly within leafy sprigs of the lignum vitae, the National Flower (10 cents), Blue Mahoe, the National Tree (20 cents), the swallow – tailed Humming Bird, the National Bird, sipping nectar from a flower (25 cents).

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) (1970):

In 1970, the FAO brought out a limited edition box set of 45 coins representing 33 countries (10000 box sets only). 23 designers from all over the World, contributed to this effort out of which, Ironside designed the reverses of the British Commonwealth.

Mauritius (1971):

During 1971, Mauritius released a ten rupee coin depicting the extinct dodo bird designed by Ironside.  In 1974-75 Mauritius released a two coin set under the “World Wildlife Fund Silver Proof Coin Collection” series in which the reverse of the 50 rupees coin depicting the Mauritius Kestrel was designed by Ironside. Also, in 1988, a 25 rupee gold coin was issued depicting the dodo design made by Ironside.

Gibraltar (1971):

The Gibraltar 25 pence coin depicted a Barbary macaque monkey, commonly called the “Barbary Ape” which was designed by Ironside.

Isle of Man (1971):

Ironside also created the reverse designs for the first modern circulation coins (1971 first decimal set) issued by the Isle of Man. These coins were issued from 1971-1974. The following designs appear on them made by Ironside – Cushag yellow field flower, National Flower (½ penny), design of a ring chain cross based on 10th and 11th Century Norse decorations (1 new penny), Tower of Refuge (5 new pence), the Tree Legs of Man, the official Arms of the Isles of Man (10 new pence), a Viking ship (50 pence) and a Manx cat (1 Crown).

Malta (1972):

In May 1972, a new set of Maltese coins were issued. The new coin designs sought to proclaim the country’s Independence and to feature distinguished personalities, historical monuments and edifices, flora, fauna and folklore of Malta. The coins were all designed by Ironside – on the obverse the Maltese Cross , National symbol of Malta (2 mils ), Maltese bee wings outspread over a honeycomb (3 mils), figure of a water carrier (5 mils), George Cross (1 cent), Knights Hospitaler wearing an elm (2 cents), temple altar found in the Mnajdra, a megalithic temple structure complex in Malta (5 cents), Grand Master’s barge (10 cents) and man with sword and shield flanked by two women (50 cents).

Singapore coins (1985):

In 1985, Ironside designed the reverses for the “floral series” of coins of Singapore. The theme was to highlight the Botanical diversity of Singapore. These designs still appear on Singapore’s coins.  This was one of his last contributions to numismatics. Vanda Miss Joaquim, National Flower of Singapore (1 cent), fruit salad plant or “Monstera deliciosa” (5 cents), star jasmine or “Jasminium Multiflorum” (10 cents), powder puff plant or “Calliandra Surinamensis” (20 cents), yellow Allamanda or “Allamanda cathartica” and periwinkle  or “Lochnera rosea” (1 dollar).





(The above coin images are from my collection, except for the George V one and half penny images which are from Jayant Biswas' collection. Article Researched and coins scanned by Rajeev Prasad). 




Links:

British Crown Dependencies:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda

10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence 

11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003 

12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint 

Famous Battles

1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 

2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:

1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns 

British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:

1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)

2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin

3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence

4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone

 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel 

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

6) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom

Inspirations from Scottish History: 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes

Banknotes from Scotland:
  
1) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote

Friday 24 May 2013

101) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two-Pound coin issued by the Royal Mint, U.K. celebrating the milestone:



101) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two-Pound coin issued by the Royal Mint, U.K. celebrating the milestone:

Why the name Guinea?
The coin was ‘romantically” named Guinea, because the gold for the coins was supplied by the “Africa Company” operating along the Gold/Guinea Coast in West Africa. Interestingly, the Egyptian Pound which was in circulation in the nineteenth century was also called “el-Geneh” or “el-Geni” in Arabic and was at par with the British Guinea.

The guineas were struck in “yellow” gold giving rise to an old adage “as yellow as a guinea”.

Tracing the fascinating life story of the Guinea (A Summary):

-      From the Restoration of the Monarchy to the Napoleonic Wars, the gold guinea was the preferred coin of the wealthy Britons.

-      It was first minted in 1663, after the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, in the aftermath of the English Civil War when the Republican coinage was replaced by the coinage bearing the portrait of the newly restored King, Charles II.

-      Since inception, the guinea was struck during eight reigns in succession, thereafter and on the reverse always displayed the Arms of the reigning monarch, changing with each succession to reflect the dominion of the King or Queen.

-      Issued regularly in every reign from Charles II to George III, it was a coin that witnessed the Glorious Revolution, the Union of Kingdoms and the American War of Independence.

-      At inception, the worth of Guinea was one pound sterling or 20 shillings. Rising costs of gold later led to its actual value fluctuating until in 1717 and at its peak the Guinea was valued even upto thirty shillings. Nevertheless, for the most part, that, this coin was in circulation (1717 to 1816), it stabilised at 21 shillings to a Guinea or the equivalent of one pound and five pence in decimalized currency. (Shillings were a part of the British monetary system, upto the decimalization of the currency in 1971).

-      The Guinea was the principal gold coin of Britain ever since it was first minted and was the first machine-struck coin in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813.

Tracing the fascinating life story of the Guinea (Detailed):

During the reign of Charles II (1660-1685), after the “Restoration of the Monarchy”, the guinea was first minted on 06.02.1663 and became legal tender through a Proclamation issued on 27.03.1663.

Interestingly, during this period, the hand-hammered method of minting coins was replaced by machine made coins.
The new gold guineas were struck “by way of ye Mill and press” and given grained or lettered edges which made it very difficult for unscrupulous persons to clip and to counterfeit the coin.

The obverse of the guinea showed a right facing portrait of Charles II wearing a laurel wreath. On the periphery of the coin was the inscription “CAROLVS II DEI GRATIA” (Charles II, By the grace of God).

The reverse of the coin showed four crowned cruciform shields bearing the Arms of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, between which were four scepters and in the centre were four interlinked “C”s, with the inscription on the periphery “ MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX (“Of Great Britain, France and Ireland – King”). The edge of this coin was milled.

By 1680, an increase in the price of Gold, led to the Guinea being traded/exchanged at a premium and reached the worth of 22 shillings.

During the reign of James II (1685-1688), the guinea was produced both with and without the elephant and castle mark.

On the obverse, there is a portrait of James II, facing left with the inscription “JACOBUS II DEI GRATIA” (James II, by the Grace of God). 

The reverse displayed the same design as that of Charles II except for the interlinking “C”s in the centre of the coin. The edge of the coin was milled diagonally.

In 1688, James II’s daughter Mary and her husband Prince William of Orange (1689-1694) became co-monarchs, after James II was dethroned in the “Glorious Revolution”

On the obverse, their portraits appear together on the Guineas issued during this period, facing right, with William’s head in the foreground. The inscription on the periphery of this coin was “GVLIELMVS ET MARIA DEI GRATIA” (William and Mary, By the grace of God).

On the reverse, there was a new design which showed a large shield bearing the Arms of France in the first quarter, of Scotland in the second quarter, of Ireland in the third quarter and England in the fourth quarter, with a small shield in the centre bearing a Lion Rampant (the Emblem of Nassau). The inscription on the reverse on the periphery was “MAG BR FR ET HIB REX ET REGINA (“Of Magna Britannia, Francia and Hibernia, King and Queen” – “Magna Britannia” standing for Great Britain, “Francia” meaning France and “Hibernia” meaning Ireland).

By 1689, further rise in the cost of gold had driven the equivalent value of the guinea to almost 30 shillings.

During this period, the Guinea had reached the equivalent of almost 30 shillings. The Guinea was minted between 1689 and 1694 both with and without the elephant and castle. In 1692 and 1693, the mark of the elephant alone was engraved.

William ruled as William III (1694-1702), upon the death of Queen Mary in 1694.

On the obverse of the guinea, during this period, his portrait appeared facing right with the inscription “GVLIELMVS III DEI GRATIA” (William III, By the Grace of God).

On the reverse, the design was reverted to that of Charles II and James II, but with a small shield with the Lion of Nassau in the Centre. The peripheral inscription was “MAG BR FRA HIB REX (“Of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King”).

 During the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714), the Act of Union 1707, which created a united/Unified Kingdom of Great Britain through the Union of the Parliament of Scotland with the Parliament of England, was enacted.

The guinea was minted every year during her reign, except for 1704.

On the obverse the guinea bears the portrait of Queen Anne facing left. The guinea minted during 1703, bears the word “VIGO” below the Queen’s portrait, to commemorate sea-battle, in which, the gold for minting of the guineas, was seized from Spanish ships at the Battle of Vigo Bay.

On the reverse:

a)   the design before the Act of Union 1707 showed the Cruciform shields bearing the Arms of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, separated by scepters and with a Central Tudor Rose and the peripheral legend “MAG BRI FR ET HIB REG” (meaning “Of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Queen”).

b)   After the Act of Union 1707, the English and Scottish Arms appear conjoined on one shield and the order of Arms on the shields is England and Scotland, France, England and Scotland, Ireland. The centre of the reverse design shows the Star of the Order of the Garter. On some coins minted in 1708 and 1709, the elephant and castle design are engraved.

During the reign of George I (1714-1727), the guineas were minted sometimes with the elephant and castle design in 1721, 1722 and 1726.

The obverse of the 1714 guineas shows the King facing right, with the inscription on the periphery “ GEORGIVS DG MAG BR FR ET HIB FD” (meaning “George , by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Hibernia King, Fedei Defensor , with Hibernia standing for Ireland and Fedei Defensor standing for “Defender of the Faith”). In later coins “MAG” has been reduced to the single letter “M”, as there was too much crowding of letters on the periphery. The obverse designs showed five different portraits of the King between 1714 and 1727.

The reverse has the same design as in the last years of Queen Anne’s reign, except that the order of shields is England, France, Ireland and Hanover. The inscription on the periphery is: “BRVN ET LVN DVX R I A TH ET PR EL 1714” (meaning “Duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg, Arch Treasurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire”). The edge of the coin is milled diagonally.

A Royal Proclamation in December 1717 froze the value of the guinea at 21 shillings.

During the reign of George II (1727-1760),

Guineas were minted every year except for 1742, 1744, 1754 and 1757.

Some guineas minted between 1729 and 1739 carry the letters “EIC” under the King’s head, meaning that the gold for these coins was given by the “East India Company”. Some guineas of 1745 have the letters “LIMA” indicating that the gold was brought by General George Anson, accumulated during his voyage around the globe.

The obverse of the guineas minted during 1739 to 1743, has a portrait of the King facing left, with the inscription “GEORGIUS II DEI GRATIA” (meaning “George II, by the Grace of God”). In all, the guinea featured eight different obverses during his reign.

The reverse of the guinea shows a single large crowned shield with the quarters containing the Arms of England and Scotland, France, Hanover and Ireland. On the periphery is the legend “M B F ET H REX F D B ET LD S R I A T ET E” (meaning “King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg, Arch Treasurer and Elector”. The guinea during his reign featured five different reverse designs.

In 1732, the old hammered gold coinage was demonetized and the gold was used to mint guineas.

The earlier coins had diagonally milled edges, but in 1939, the milling was changed to look like the shape of a chevron or arrow head, following the detection of guineas being filed by unscrupulous persons, without being easily detected.

During the reign of George III (1760-1820), the obverse of the guineas of this period shows the King facing right with the inscription on the periphery: “GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA” (meaning “George III, By the grace of God”). The guinea featured six different obverse portraits of the King.

The reverse of the guineas issued between 1761 and 1786 depict a crowned shield bearing the Arms of England and Scotland, France, Ireland and Hanover. The inscription on the periphery is “M B F ET H REX F D B ET LD S R I A T ET E” (meaning” King of Great Britain, France and Hibernia – Ireland – Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg, Arch – Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire”). The guinea featured at least three different reverse designs in 1761, 1763-79, 1781-86, 1787-99 and 1813.

In the reign of George III, guineas were struck nearly every year from 1761 to 1799.
The King’s early guineas bore on the reverse a garnished shield of the Royal Arms, but from 1787, a crowned shield was adopted which resembled the old style long handled spades, earning the coin its famous nickname – the Spade Guinea”, which is one of the most popular guineas.

Towards the end of the eighteenth century, the French Revolutionary Wars/ Napoleonic Wars had drained the gold reserves and gold became a scarce commodity. The Guinea was being used for gold hoarding. The British Parliament, left with no alternative, passed laws making Banknotes legal tender for any denomination.

In 1799, guineas stopped being minted, although half and third-guineas were still coined.

In 1813, about 80,000 guineas were restruck, to pay the Duke of Wellington’s army in the Pyrenees, because the local residents would not accept any paper currency and only wanted gold coins from the British troops. As such, the 1813 guinea issues are also referred to as the “Military Guinea.

The obverse of the “Military guinea” showed a portrait of the King and,
  the reverse showed a crowned shield within a Garter with the inscription “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE” on the Garter and “BRITANNIARUM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR” (“King of the British, Defender of the Faith”) on the periphery and the year of issue “1813”.

This was the last time the Guinea was minted and has since become a most sought after item by Collectors.

The Great Recoinage of 1816, replaced the guinea with another exciting gold coin the “Sovereign”, but that is another story.

The “fascination” of the Guinea still endures:

-      The mystique of the coin still endures. The legend and lure of the Guinea is very much alive to the present day, from its one pound and one shilling value, to its association with gentlemen, gentility and good taste.

-      Guinea is still a term which denotes an amount of 21 shillings or 1.05 pounds in decimalized currency.

-      The guinea always the preferred mode of payment of the Aristrocracy. Professional Fees, payments for property, Art, tailoring etc. were often quoted in guineas even after the decimalization of British currency in 1971.

-       The guinea is still a term used in pricing and sale of livestock at auctions and in horse-racing. The purchaser pays the equivalent of Guineas to the seller in pounds. Major horse races in Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, have names of Races ending in “1000 Guineas” or “2000 Guineas” even though the nominal value of their purses are much higher than the amounts suggested by their names.

-      Although the Guinea had been long superseded by the “gold Sovereign”, such was the impact of the Guinea that the coin remains very much a part of the vocabulary of today.

-      (When I went to purchase my first gold sovereign from a Jewellery shop in 1983, The Shop owner immediately called out to his Assistant, “Bring me the box containing gold guineas” and he promptly, let me choose a “gold Sovereign” from the box. (Alas, when we went to buy gold Sovereigns in the Pune Jewellery stores recently, no one seemed to have heard of either a gold “Guinea” or a “Sovereign”, but the Royal Mint U.K. still retails old original gold Guineas through a Special Cell).

Commemorative Coin:

This is the first time that the Royal Mint has celebrated the anniversary of a coin with a coin. A 2 Pound coin has been chosen to mark 350 years since a golden guinea was first struck, its commemorative design inspired by the famous “Spade Guinea” of George IIIdepicting a shield with the Arms of King George III, so nicknamed, for the shape of its shield resembled the garden spade.

The Spade Guinea was most popular and sought after, of all the Guinea designs, so much so, that it was often cast in brass even about a century or so later.

A pictorial depiction

An image of the coin in my collection
On the reverse, the coin depicts the “Spade Guinea” designed by Anthony Smith (based on the iconic “Spade Guinea” design of 1787).The inscription “Anniversary of the Golden Guinea . 2013.” is seen on the outer periphery/Ring of the coin. 



 On the obverse, this coin has Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait, facing right which is the familiar design made by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Edge inscription: “WHAT IS A GUINEA? TIS A SPLENDID THING”

(This is a line taken from “Odes, Lyrical Ballads and Poems on various Occasions” by contemporary writer Stephen George Kemble (1809) where he has penned “What is a Guinea? ‘tis a splendid thing. Which represents our sovereign lord the King”). 

Specifications of the coin:

Metal Composition: Outer Ring: Nickel Brass; Inner Ring: Cupro-nickel.

Diameter: 28.40 mm

Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated.

Weight: 12.00 gms.



Links:

British Crown Dependencies:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda

10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence 

11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003 

12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint 

Famous Battles

1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 

2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:

1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns 

British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:

1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)

2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin

3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence

4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone

 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel 

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

6) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom

Inspirations from Scottish History: 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes

Banknotes from Scotland:
  
1) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote