Description
Charles II (1660-85), Two Guineas, 1664, elephant below pointed truncation, first laureate bust right, toothed borders both sides, legend surrounds CAROLVS II DEI GRATIA. Rev, crowned cruciform shields, emblematic sceptres in angles, interlocking royal monogram at centre in the form of connected C’s, five strings to Irish harp, date flanking top crown, reads MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX (S.3334; Schneider 430; EGC 204; MCE 32). Well struck on good gold, some hairlines and light metal stress fissures. The portrait well detailed with the normal fade in the central region of King’s hair. Rev, mirrored with some flashes of original mint bloom. Good very fine for issue.
The Elephant provenance emblem below the bust helped highlight the coins exclusively issued by the Royal African Company, this was an English mercantile trading company founded in 1660 by Prince Rupert in unison with the City of London merchants. It was originally known as the Company of Royal Adventurers trading into Africa. It had its initial aim or focus in and around the vicinity of the West Coast of Africa, with an especial focus on the lucrative Gold available around the Gambia river, in fact it had been granted a monopoly over English trade around the West coast of Africa. By 1672 it had been relaunched as the Royal Africa company of England. Insolvent by 1708, it continued to trade with reduced activity up until 1750, at this point it’s assets and commodities were transferred to new African Company of Merchants which lasted until 1821.
