The reverse design features the lion of England, rearing up and facing the viewer. The lion, the defender of the Crown and Empire, holds the crown of England and stands on a rope and a globe. This represents the reach of the British Empire: the rope symbolises the Age of Sail, and the globe - the worldwide reach of British merchant ships.
A shield displaying the Cross of St. George is a reference to the final guinea coin circulated in Britain in the late 1700s. Crossed sceptres in the background represent the four points of the compass (and were also used on the first guineas minted during the reign of King Charles II). The wreath at the bottom of the heraldic display includes tea and cotton leaves, just two of the dozens of vital trade goods the East India Company supplied to Great Britain during the age of sail.
The background has a decorative geometric pattern.
Around above, the name of the coin series: · GUINEA ·. Around left and around right, the precious metal content: 1.25 OUNCE 999 SILVER.
In the lower part of the rim, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated. |