1775 - George III Half Guinea S3733 Bull R4 Extremely Rare VF

George III (1760-1820), gold Half-Guinea, 1775, third laureate head right, legend GEORGIVS. III. DEI. GRATIA. toothed border around rim both sides, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, date either side of crown, legend M.B.F.ET.H. REX. F.D.B. ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T ET.E. weight 4.11g (Schneider 617; Bull EGC 814 R4; MCE 416 VR; S.3733). good fine / very fine, and the rarest type for George III.

The Latin legends translate to on obverse "George the Third by the Grace of God" continuing on the reverse in abbreviated Latin which if in shown in full reads "Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor Brun et Lunebergen-sis Dux, Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-Thesaurius et Elector" and translates as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

The Third bust was only issued for two dates of 1774 and 1775 and is known as the "inferior workmanship" bust as is concurrent with the second bust for both years and the fourth bust which takes over as the new type from 1775. These coins are very rare today suggesting perhaps that the majority of the mintage of gold coins for the calendar year of 1775 were guineas.