1664 Charles II Elephant Below 2 Guinea Gold Graded - gFine Coin

This 1664 2 Guinea gold coin has been graded by our expert numismatists as gFine. It is the only date of Charles II's first portrait two guinea to feature the elephant mark, making this coin a one-year type and, therefore, slightly more collectible than most other dates.

• Fineness: 0.917 / 22 carat
• Contains 0.49 troy ounces of gold
• Special Elephant Mark (1664 only)
• VAT Exempt
• Weight: 17.07g

See our complete Guinea gold coin collection.

Two Guineas

Two guinea gold coins were only issued between 1664 and 1777, as a double guinea. Their original face value was two pounds (£2) or forty shillings. As the price of gold bullion fluctuated during this period, their exchange value also varied, this being a typical problem with any bimetallic or trimetallic currency system whenever the ratio of the values of the underlying metals varies significantly from their original values. At one stage the guinea was worth as much as 30 shillings, although by the end of its life it was worth 21 shillings, and it had passed into "common knowledge" that the face value of a guinea was 21 shillings, which would of course have valued the two guinea at 42 shillings. This popular belief is incorrect.

Elephant Below Bust

All four sizes in the guinea family of gold coinage were produced both with and without an elephant below the portrait. We have ignored the smaller fractions as they were never issued until the reign of George III, over a century later. The elephant and castle (howdah) were the badge of The Africa Company, which submitted gold to the mint for coining. The coins produced from west African gold bore an elephant, or an elephant and castle to show the provenance of the metal.

The only date of Charles II first portrait two guinea to use the elephant mark was 1664, making this coin a one-year type coin, and therefore slightly more collectable than most dates.

From 1676 to 1684, an elephant and castle mark appeared on two guineas. there was also a very rare issue of 1684 two guinea with elephant only.

History of Elephants In Blackpool

The Blackpool Tower Circus, established in 1894, featured elephants from 1895. These elephants were a notable attraction, often seen walking along Blackpool beach. Animal performances ended in the 1990s due to welfare concerns, but the elephants remain an iconic part of the circus's rich history​.

The obverse features the bust of King Charles II with an elephant underneath. The inscription reads:

CAROLVS·II· DEI·GRATIA

The reverse features a cruciform shield design. The lettering reads:

MAG· BR·FRA· ET·HIB· REX·16 64·

This translates as:

King of Great Britain, France and Ireland