Guinea 1684 King Charles II, Coin from England - detailed information

Within a toothed border, the obverse of the coin depicts the fourth laureate bust of King Charles II, designed by John Roettiers. The King has long flowing hair held with a laurel wreath, and faces right.

Around left and around right, part of the monarch's legend: CAROLVS · II · DEI · GRATIA, which in Latin means "Charles the Second, by the Grace of God". The rest of the legend is on the reverse.

Within a toothed border, the reverse design features a cruciform of four crowned shields forming a cross around the four intertwined letters C. The shields bear the arms of England (top): three lions "passant guardant", Scotland (right): a rampant lion, France (below): three fleurs-de-lis, and Ireland (left): a harp.

In the angles are four sceptres dividing the shields, surmounted respectively by an orb with cross (for England), thistle (for Scotland), fleur-de-lis (for France), and harp (for Ireland).

Around above, divided by the crown on the top English shield, the date of issue 1684.

Around the rim, interrupted by the crowns, the continuation of the monarch's legend: · MAG · BR · FRA · ET · HIB · REX ·. This is abbreviated from "Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae Rex" and means "of Great Britain, France and Ireland King". The mention of France, and the inclusion of the French shield in the design, reflect the king's claim to the throne of France - which he did not actually rule.

As was normal for the time, the denomination of the coin is not inscribed anywhere.