Toned ‘Elephant’ Five Guinea
STUART. Charles II. 1660-1685. AV Five Guineas. Dated 1668 and RY VICESIMO. Bull,
Gold 167; MCE 2; SCBC 3329. Lovely reddish tone, a few light scratches. Good VF. Bold elephant. Overall very pleasing.
In 1660, the Royal Africa Company was given a monopoly of English trade in West Africa with the particular aim of exploiting the gold fields of the upper Gambia River. Coins were struck at the Royal Mint with gold from these endeavors, bearing the Company’s badge of an elephant and castle (sometimes an elephant only) under the effigy of the monarch. Initially these issues were so plentiful that the new milled gold issues were given the popular name the Guinea. After 1689, the Company lost its monopoly and in the 18th century elephant and castle coins were issued more infrequently. The Royal Africa Company was dissolved in 1752.
