Owner Comments:
George III (1760-1820), gold Proof "Military" Guinea, 1813, sixth laureate head right, legend surrounding, GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA, rev. quartered shield of arms within crowned garter, French legend on garter HONI. SOIT. QUI. MAL. Y. PENSE, date below, legend commences upper right, BRITANNIARUM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR (cf.Schneider 613; WR 114 R4; S.3730).
The 1813 Guinea is the last year the denomination was struck for currency and represents a new design since the previous spade type Guinea some 14 years earlier. It was termed the military Guinea as it was produced to help pay the English soldiers advancing into France, and interestingly an extra 7,455 pounds weight of gold was minted in London this year into Anglo-Hanoverian Five Thaler pieces, for the use of the Kings electorate at Brunswick Luneberg in the process of being liberated by the British forces which occurred by 1815. A total of £519,722 worth of gold Guineas, Half-Guineas and Third-Guineas were struck in this calendar year which was the largest output since 1804, and there was no gold output at all in 1807 or 1812