Lot 186
Great Britain. Guinea, 1750. George II, Old Head. S-3680; Fr-344; KM-588. Rare date, not that the standard references would so indicate; but it took 20 years to locate one! Among the finest known of its type, and possibly the very best 1750 in existence. PCGS graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,500.

"Treasure Island"

Lot 191
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1759. George II, Old Head. S-3685; Fr-349; KM-587. A stunning coin in rare grade. It was gold coins such as this that were current at the time of such stories as R. L. Stevenson's Treasure Island, when the lore of lost riches was first entering the popular imagination. PCGS graded MS-64.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,000.

Superb 1760 Half Guinea

Lot 193
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1760. George II, Old Head. S-3685; Fr-349; KM-587. Last year of issue for this type. A splendid, satiny coin, well struck from old dies, showing some crumbling around the reverse letters, for instance. PCGS graded MS-65. Color photo.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,000.

Fabulous 1761 Pattern Guinea

Lot 195
Great Britain. Pattern Guinea, 1761. By Tanner. George III, young laureate Bust. Plain edge. WR-82. DM-96. This is a gorgeous, striking design, with curly hair reminding one of the splendid "Fine Work" guinea of William III, struck sixty years earlier. Perhaps it was an inspiration for John Tanner, during this period when he and Richard Yeo were competing against each other's considerable talents for the king's pleasure (as well as that of the coinage committee). Patterns in gold reached new levels of beauty and technical proficiency in the 1760s and 1770s. R5, extremely rare (just 6 to 10 known). Any early George III guinea is most elusive, but to own a splendid cameoed pattern Proof such as this, that must be some sort of collecting apex. Here, the king's portrait gleams with a special brilliance, seen on few other coins of any kind. This is one of the rarity highlights of the Terner Collection. PCGS graded Proof 64 Deep Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $7,500-10,000.

Very Rare 1761 Pattern Guinea

Lot 196
Great Britain. Pattern Guinea, 1761. By Yeo. George III (the adopted 1st laureate Head, used only in 1761). WR-84. DM-97. Plain edge. R4, very rare (11 to 20 known). We waited nearly 20 years to buy this coin, all others that we reviewed up until that time being inferior. Once we had this, we did not "need" a currency issue of 1761; nor did we ever locate a choice example, in 22 years of searching. This is among the rarest of all guinea types, and as a Proof it has special allure. This delightful coin is in full brilliance and possesses lovely old-time reddish toning on its reverse. PCGS graded Proof 62. Color photo.
Estimated Value $5,000-7,000.
Ex Brooker and Selig collections.

Very Rare Pattern 1762 Half Guinea

Lot 197
Great Britain. Pattern Half Guinea, 1762. By Yeo. George III, young laureate head. WR-125. DM-82. The style of the coin later made as S-3731 with exquisite, long curls beneath the king's bust. Plain edge. Extremely rare (R4), and a most lovely brilliant Proof. In fact, a major rarity in this series. PCGS graded Proof 63 Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $5,000-7,500.
Ex Selig Collection.

Very Rare Baby Head 1762 Half Guinea

Lot 198
Great Britain. Half Guinea, 1762. George III, 1st laureate Head. S-3731; Fr-358; KM-593. One of the finest known of this elusive 2-year type issue. Sharply struck with abundant luster and remarkably well preserved. Very rare! PCGS graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.

Extremely Rare 1763 Pattern Half Guinea

Lot 199
Great Britain. Pattern or Proof Half Guinea, 1763. By Yeo. George III, short-haired laureate head, curls over the left shoulder. WR-127. DM-84 (this coin). Plain edge. Extremely rare (R4). A pleasing brilliant Specimen. PCGS graded Proof 61. Color photo.
Estimated Value $6,000-8,000.
Ex Douglas-Morris, ex Selig Collection, where noted as "possibly Bergne, Brice, Montagu" (Montagu bought the Brice collection intact).

Very Rare Pattern 1764 Quarter Guinea

Lot 200
Great Britain. Pattern ¼ Guinea, 1764. By Yeo. George III, Young Laureate Head. Plain edge. Formerly attributed to Tanner. WR-141. R5: 6-10 known. Conceived early in the reign but never adopted, there having been a sole currency issue, in 1762. This glittering specimen possesses deep mirrored surfaces and is of exceptional beauty. It also enjoys a famed provenance: ex Douglas-Morris Collection, #76. Of the few known, several are of course impounded in museums. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo. Color photo.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.
It also enjoys a famed provenance: ex Douglas-Morris Collection, #76. Of the few known, several are of course impounded in museums.

Pattern 1764 Half Guinea

Lot 201
Great Britain. Pattern Half Guinea, 1764. By Yeo. George III, laureate head slightly more compact than on the similar 1763 piece. WR-128. DM-85 (this coin). Plain edge. While called a pattern by some, this is obviously a first-year-of-issue Proof for the record. Extremely rare (R5) and really lovely. Nonetheless, one of the finest of only a few pieces known in all grades. PCGS graded Proof 62. Color photo.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.
Ex Douglas-Morris, ex Herman Selig Collection and, as the Spink ticket noted in that sale, very possibly ex Nobleman and ex Captain Hewitt.

Extremely Rare Proof 1765 Pattern Guinea

Lot 203
Great Britain. Pattern Guinea, 1765. By Yeo. George III, laureate bust. WR-88. DM-103 (this coin). Plain edge. The suggested design which became the 3rd Head, first struck as a currency coin in 1765. This pattern is R5, extremely rare (6 to 10 known). It is one of two principal patterns for the Rose guinea series which followed. A brilliant and very choice specimen, with an impressive provenance. PCGS graded Proof 63. Color photo.
Estimated Value $6,000-8,000.
Ex Whetmore, Hewitt, Brooker, Douglas-Morris, and Selig collections.