Britain, George III Spade Guinea Token – 1800s – United Kingdom Clearance With Mastercard

Includes glass top display box.

• Origin: United Kingdom
• Denomination: Spade guinea brass token, imitating a real gold guinea
• Ruler: King George III
• Date: Stated date 1788, actually struck circa 1800s
• Obverse Design: Fifth laureate portrait of King George III right, legend around.
  
• Reverse Design: Crowned quartered shield of arms in the shape of a spade, legend around, date below.

These spade guinea tokens were not legal tender currency, nor were they counterfeits meant to be passed of as genuine. Rather, they were produced as novelty, souvenir, and promotional pieces that were used in advertising, as gaming pieces for gamblers, or simply given out as keepsakes.

Although they were based on gold guineas from the reign of King George III, most were actually made from brass during the later Victorian era. George III’s portrait was used in order to avoid anticounterfeiting laws, and some design elements like the legend were often changed for the same reason. They are known as “spade” guineas due to the spade shaped coat of arms on the reverse.

All purchases include a Certificate of Authenticity. You will receive the exact item in this photo, along with a glass top leatherette display box.