2020 Saint Helena 1/4 oz Gold Sceptre Guinea BU

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This modern gold coin from 2020 revives a historic legacy that dates back to the seventeenth century. Struck from one-quarter ounce of 99.99 percent pure gold, the piece pays homage to the Sceptre Guinea, a landmark coin first produced in Great Britain in 1663. That historic predecessor took its name from the Guinea region of Africa and represented a major technological leap as one of the earliest machine-struck coins in England. The front of this coin displays the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II created by Raphael Maklouf. Surrounding the royal likeness are inscriptions indicating the issuing territory of Saint Helena, the face value of 25 Pounds, and the 2020 year of issue. Both sides of the coin are decorated with a traditional pattern in the background fields, a signature element associated with the East India Company. On the reverse, the central Sceptre Guinea design is accompanied by the official mint mark of the East India Company. The reverse also displays the weight and purity of the precious metal, reading "1/4 OUNCE" and "999.9 GOLD". This brilliant uncirculated release offers a fascinating connection between modern minting precision and the origins of mechanized coining.