| Coin | Silver Tenth-Ounce 2021 Spade Guinea |
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Saint Helena is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean which is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The currency of the island is the Saint Helena pound, fixed at parity with the pound sterling. The island has authorised some private mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes - including in the very small silver tenth-ounce (1/10 oz silver) format, usually denominated as 10 pence.
This coin is the fourth issue in the Spade Guinea coin range by The East India Company, and the second tenth-ounce in it (the earlier ones were a silver ounce in 2018, a silver ounce in 2019, and a silver tenth-ounce in 2020).
The guinea was once the most respected and internationally recognised coinage in the world. First issued in 1663 during the reign of King Charles II, the guinea gold coins went through various designs and were issued by England and its many overseas colonies for nearly 200 years. The gold coin was the first machine-coin gold piece from the Royal Mint and it would eventually become an international symbol of Great Britain's growing power and influence during the 17th and 18th centuries. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she wears on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.
Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).
Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ST. HELENA · QUEEN ELIZABETH II · 2021 · £.10 · THE EAST INDIA COMPANY ·.
Note that the face value is abbreviated as £.10 (one tenth of a pound, equal to ten pence). |
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| Reverse | |
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At its centre, the reverse of the coin shows the Shield of the Royal Coat of Arms of King George I, current in 1714. It reflects the recent union of the crowns of England and Scotland - represented by the three lions of England and the lion of Scotland in the top left quarter, the King's claim to the throne of France - represented by the fleur-de-lis (three lilies) top right, his capacity of King of Ireland represented by the harp of Ireland in the bottom left quarter, and the merger of the House of Hanover (of which George I was Elector) with the British crown, represented by the Coat of Arms of the House of Hanover in the bottom right corner (featuring the white horse of Hanover as the primary element among three other elements marking the monarchs lands in Brunswick and Luneburg, with the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire).
The shield is crowned with St Edward's Crown, and has a narrowing shape which resembles the head of a spade, giving the coin its nickname, the Spade Guinea.
Around the rim, the inscription 1/10 OUNCE · GUINEA · 999 SILVER. In the rim below, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
1/10 OUNCE · GUINEA · 999 SILVER |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: individual coin in plastic flip, or 50 in mint tube, or 5,000 in monster box. |
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| See also |
Saint Helena coins with historic Guinea designs include:
- 42 g Gold Proof, Spade Five Guineas 2023
- 16.8 g Gold Proof, Spade Two Guineas 2023
- 8.4 g Gold Proof, Military Guinea 2020
- 8.4 g Gold Proof, Spade Guinea 2023
- 8.4 g Gold Proof, Standing Lion Guinea 2023
- Sovereign, Gold Proof, Spade Guinea 2020
- 1/4 oz Gold Bullion, Rose Crown Guinea 2018
- 1/4 oz Gold Bullion, Rose Crown Guinea 2020
- 4.2 g Gold Proof, Spade Half Guinea 2020
- 4.2 g Gold Proof, Spade Half Guinea 2023
- 2.1 g Gold Proof, Rose Crown Quarter Guinea 2020
- 2.1 g Gold Proof, Spade Half Guinea 2023
- 1.25 oz Silver Bullion, Rose Crown Guinea 2018
- 1.25 oz Silver Bullion, Rose Crown Guinea 2020
- 1.25 oz Silver Bullion, Rose Crown Guinea 2021
- 1.25 oz Silver Bullion, Standing Lion Guinea 2021
- 1.25 oz Silver Bullion, Rose Crown Guinea 2022
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Spade Guinea 2018
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Spade Guinea 2019
- 1/10 oz Silver Bullion, Spade Guinea 2020
- 1/10 oz Silver Bullion, Spade Guinea 2021
- 1/10 oz Silver Bullion, Spade Guinea 2022
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