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.
The background of the centre has a decorative geometric pattern.
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. |