George III (1760-1820), Pre-1816 issues, Guinea, 1775, fourth bust (MCE 380; S 3728). About very fine, reddish tone; in a red fitted case, the lid gilt-blocked with inscription ‘A Guinea, as a Thank Offering on being rescued, To Lieutt. G.G. Pearse from Mr. Jeffries, Hissar, June 1857’ (£300-350)

Sold with a note in the hand of the recipient, which states:
“Memorandum, London, July 1898. Hissar is a District which adjourns Delhi, the old capital of India, the Head quarters of the great Indian Mutiny War and Rebellion. That gt. Mutiny broke out early in June 1857. Rebels and Mutineers at once murdered most of the Europeans and Christians at Hissar. A few fled and escaped, hiding in miserable places.
I was offered the command of 300 Rajpoot Rahtore Horse of Bikanir to attempt to save Hissar and rescue the unfortunate fugitives. It was a desperately forlorn hope and venture. The country in its thousands was up, and our partizans were very few.
On the 25th June 1857 I reached the place and by a bold ruse installed myself in its high place, a kind of small citadel. Fugitives were rescued…amongst them was Mr Jeffries, Head Clerk in the Collector’s Office. The Collector, a Bengal Civilian, had been killed. Mr Jeffries was very grateful, he had a bag full of Guineas, and begged I would accept one as a thank offering; I did so, this is it. A Guinea of King George the IIIrd of Gt. Britain, France, Ireland and Hanover, with the arms of those countries on the Reverse, and dated 1775.
I deem it a fit memento for retention in our family reliquaire.
Geo. G. Pearse, General, CB, Colonel Commandant Royal Horse Artillery”.

George Godfrey Pearse, CB (1827-1905) served in the Madras Artillery from 1845 and later became Colonel Commandant of the Royal Horse Artillery. A diary covering his service during the period 1848-9, including the siege of Multan and on the Afghan frontier, is in the British Library