James II (1685-1688). 5 guineas, 1st bust, with elephant and castle 1687, London.

GREAT BRITAIN - UNITED KINGDOM James II (1685-1688). 5 guineas, 1st bust, with elephant and castle 1687, London.
Obv. IACOBVS. II. - DEI. GRATIA. Laureate head facing left; below (different).
Rev. MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB. REX (date). Cross composed by four crowned shields containing arms, and flanked by four scepters.
S.3398 - GH 43 (38 examples, finest MS61+) - Bull.312 - Fr.293; Gold - 41.71g - 37 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop : this is the most beautiful graded example ! With the elephant and castle, indicating that the metal came from the Royal African Company, one of the oldest British colonial companies established in Guinea. Prestigious pedigree : H. Montagu Collection, Sotheby’s sale, London, November 1896, n°842, sold as coming from the W. Brice collection (purchased in bulk by H. Montagu); then B.M.S. Roth Collection, Sotheby's sale, London, July 1917, n°349; then Lieutenant-Colonel T. G. Carter’s collection, purchased by Spink, London, in 1936; then Dr. E. C. Carter’s collection, purchased in bulk by Baldwin, London, in 1950 and sold in 1951 (£125); then, Slaney collection, Spink 3024 sale, London, May 2003, n°70 and finally private collection (Sincona British Collection)
NGC MS 63. Raised lettered edge : +. DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN. ANNO. REGNI. TERTIO. Exceptional strike, remarkable force and well-centered, the reliefs perfectly raised. Close to mint state, the original shine barely browned in the fields by a patina with orange tones. Exceptional and spectacular. Uncirculated.