1078781 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. Anne. (Queen, 1702-1714). 1702 AV Pattern Guinea. NGC AU50. ANNA · DEI · - GRATIA ·. Bust left with no drapery and lovelock on shoulder / MAG - BR FRA - ET · HIB - REG ·. Monogram AR at center; crowned shields in cruciform, sceptres at angles. W&R 59 (R6, 3-5 Known).

An exceedingly rare pattern guinea and quite possibly the first true pattern guinea struck. A full exploration of this theory was provided in the St. James auction catalogue of 30 September, 2010: "All guineas struck before the Act of Union with Scotland in 1707 are decidedly rare, but here is a coin of extraordinary importance, as it appears to be the first pattern for a guinea ever struck. While Wilson & Rasmussen list it second after their no. 58 (rose in centre), the historical evidence indicates that their no. 59, this piece, was in fact made before it, therefore becoming the first-ever pattern in gold created for a guinea style never issued. Hocking states (page 142, item no. 1556) the following: ‘This design was submitted to the Queen for approval, but by a Warrant dated 30th June, 1702, she directed that the monogram on the reverse should be replaced by a rose, and that on the obverse a dress should be added below the neck. This was carried out for the current coins’. Not only was the monogram changed to a rose, and drapery added, but the entire bust was reconceived for the issued guineas, as well as for the piece W&R list as a pattern or proof, their no. 60, featuring the familiar portrait tilted slightly forward with somewhat smaller facial features, showing an entirely redone hairstyle, and lacking the lovelock over the shoulder so prominent on the first two patterns, as exemplified by the present specimen. W&R.60 may in fact be a pattern technically, but more faithfully described it is a proof for the issued coinage. Therefore the two patterns, nos. 58 and 59, are unique in style, and of course truly rare. Crowther, who also lists the monogram issue ahead of the rose variety, enumerates this as the first known pattern for a guinea; his short roster of former owners, only four during the entire 19th century, also hints at the importance of this coin. Ruding mentions an earlier former owner as a Mr Hannet, and comments as well that the Queen was said to have objected to the neck being unclothed on this pattern. In the same year this coin was created, the Spanish treasure fleet from America was captured by the Royal Navy at Vigo Bay in Galicia, and soon thereafter the best-known issue of this monarch was struck to taunt Spain. It would be a dozen more years before another pattern of this denomination was conceived and struck, for George I in 1714.".

Ex. St. James's Auctions Ltd. (London), Auctions 14-15, 30 September 2010, Lot 501. Ex. Captain Douglas-Morris Collection, Sotheby's Sale (26 November 1974) "The Distinguished Collection of English Gold Coins 1700-1900 formed by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris R.N." Lot No 5; Ex. Captain Vivian Hewitt Collection. Includes original copy of the 1974 Sotheby's Sale catalog with the illustration of this coin (Lot No. 5).


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