![James II, 5 Guineas, 1687 TERTIO [ECM-259] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ECM-259-2.jpg)
Description
Kingdom of Great Britain, James II of the House of Stuart, King of England 1685-1688 AD, Gold Five Guineas (41.58g, 37mm), 1687 TERTIO, Royal Mint, London. Obverse: Second laureate, undraped bust of King James II facing to the left, hair flowing down neck with two tie-ribbons behind, legend surrounds, “IACOBVS · II · DEI · GRATIA”. Reverse: The Royal Arms of the Kingdom of England, as borne by King James II, displayed cruciform, each escutcheon surmounted by Saint Edward’s Crown, seven strings to the Irish Harp, Royal Sceptre in each angle surmounted by a Cross (for England), Thistle (for Scotland), Fleur-de-lis (for France), and Harp (for Ireland), date either side of top crown, legend surrounds, “·MAG BR· FRA· ET· HIB REX·”. Edge: Inscription in raised lettering, “DECVS · ET · TVTAMEN · ANNO · REGNI · TERTIO ·”. Bull ECG-313; S-3397A; KM-460.1. Amongst the pinnacle of English gold denominations, the five guinea continues to be a highly impressive type to handle, this piece, struck in the year before James II’s abdication, offers evenly worn devices and, despite being a little bright, overall nice visual appeal, details Very Fine, moderately scarce.
The Latin legend spanning across both obverse and reverse is the royal titulature of King James II, reading unabridged as “Iācōbus secundus, Deī Grātiā, Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae, Rēx”, with an English translation of “James the second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland”. The edge Latin inscription reads unabridged as “Decus et Tūtāmen Annō Rēgnī Tertiō”, with an English translation of “An Ornament and safeguard, Third Regnal Year”.
