Collection Online as of March 20, 2023

Five Guineas: George III (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)

1777

Part of a set. See all set records

Richard Yeo

(British, 1720–1779)

England, George III, 1760-1820

Gold

Diameter: 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.)

The Norweb Collection 1969.211

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

A pattern piece, this coin was not made for circulation.

Description

This is an extremely rare piece and one demonstrating the ability of the artist. Richard Yeo was appointed assistant engraver at the Royal Mint in 1749, chief engraver in 1775, and died in 1779. He was responsible for a large number of pattern pieces and for some of the currency coins of the period.

Inscriptions

Inscription

DEI . GRATIA . GEORGIVS . III.

Inscription Translation

George III by the Grace of God

Inscription

M.B.F.ET.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E 17 77

Inscription Translation

King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg, Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire.

Inscription Remark

reverse

Provenance

-1969

Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art

1969-

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Citations

Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. [Catalog. 1968. p. 68

Exhibition history

English Gold Coins: Ancient to Modern Times. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1963).

Year in Review: 1969. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (January 27-February 22, 1970).