Description
George III of the House of Hanover, King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820 AD, Gold Half Guinea (4.17g, 21mm), 1804. Obverse: Laureate head of King George III facing to the right, legend surrounds, “GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA”. Reverse: Royal Shield of Arms of the Hanoverian Sovereign as the King of England and Hanover (1801-1816 AD), no heart Semée within Hanoverian inescutcheon, central within garter bearing the motif “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE” and surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown, date either side of buckle strap below, legend surrounds, “BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:”. Spink-3737. Of bright and lustrous appearance, a charming guinea fractional, a series of which has gained more appreciation in recent years, near Very Fine, reverse Very Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Geōrgius Tertius, Deī Grātiā”, with an English translation of “George the Third, by the Grace of God. The Reverse Latin legend continues from the obverse and reads “Britanniārum Rēx, Fideī Dēfēnsor”, with an English translation of “King of the British People, Defender of the Faith”. The Reverse legend on the shield garter is the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter and is stated in full in Middle French / Anglo-Norman as “honi soit qui mal y pense”, with an English meaning of “shame on anyone who thinks evil of it”.