George III guinea, "Military" type 1813

This is a gold guinea coin, designed by Lewis Pingo during the reign of George III. The guinea was England's main gold coin for over a century. The metallic sheen and weight of this particular guinea would have literally embodied value. Minting was a highly specialized skill. Dies were engraved in steel, and then used to strike the coins. The crisp profile of King George III and the sharp lettering are a testament to the engraver's skill. The term “military type” refers to the context of its making: the coin was produced to finance military campaigns, which would have extracted gold from colonies and newly conquered territories. Although this object seems far removed from the processes of making, it depended entirely on skilled makers, and on flows of material drawn from every corner of the British Empire. This coin represents a fascinating intersection of craft, finance, and global politics.