1086335 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. William III. (King, 1694-1702). 1696 Elephant & Castle AV Half-Guinea. PCGS VF30. Elephant and castle below laureate bust, right / Crowned cruciform arms with scepters in angles. KM 487.2; SCBC-3467; Schneider 516.

The Guinea denomination was named for the original source of British gold ore in the mid-17th century, from the country in Africa then called Guinea (now Ghana). The gold was imported by the "Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading in Africa." (the elephant and castle synmbol). Its charter granted the company the privilege of having coins bearing its emblem to be struck from the gold it brought back into England. .


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