St. James's Auctions
Auction 39 30 September 2016
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† George III, crown, 1818, LVIII, laur. head r., rev. St. George and the dragon (S.3787; Bull 2005), certified and graded by NGC as Mint State 65, gem uncirculated
Here is a gorgeous pin-point sharp example of the first crown issued by the new steam-powered Royal Mint. On the obverse, the bold high relief portrait of the King simply leaps out of the lightly-toned semi-prooflike surfaces. Masterfully and intricately cut by the Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, this laureate bust of George III, the finest of the reign, pictures the King as if he were a powerful emperor of antiquity. On the reverse, Pistrucci's enduring engraving of St. George and the Dragon, symbolic of the British People's ability to overcome all odds, is exhibited for the first time in large size, the epic battle shown greatly detailed in wing, muscle and hoof!
Though the mint lavished care on these crowns during their minting and distribution, instructing the banks to treat them as works of art, the intervening 200 years have not been kind to the majority of these large coins. Struck with multiple blows to bring up the design, the resulting prooflike surfaces were very smooth and delicate. In addition, many collectors have attempted to remove inevitable toning over the years by wiping them and creating hairlines, hence many lower quality examples are available.
Happily, this coin looks as though it just came off the press, retaining its semi-prooflike, virtually intact surfaces along with a full strike and beautiful pastel gold-greenish toning. Out of 65 uncirculated Crowns of this regnal year (LVIII) graded by NGC, only five have reached the MS65 level with none higher.
This beauty is a tremendous memento from the dawn of the industrial age of coinage. Don't miss the opportunity. (£2750-3250)
Here is a gorgeous pin-point sharp example of the first crown issued by the new steam-powered Royal Mint. On the obverse, the bold high relief portrait of the King simply leaps out of the lightly-toned semi-prooflike surfaces. Masterfully and intricately cut by the Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, this laureate bust of George III, the finest of the reign, pictures the King as if he were a powerful emperor of antiquity. On the reverse, Pistrucci's enduring engraving of St. George and the Dragon, symbolic of the British People's ability to overcome all odds, is exhibited for the first time in large size, the epic battle shown greatly detailed in wing, muscle and hoof!
Though the mint lavished care on these crowns during their minting and distribution, instructing the banks to treat them as works of art, the intervening 200 years have not been kind to the majority of these large coins. Struck with multiple blows to bring up the design, the resulting prooflike surfaces were very smooth and delicate. In addition, many collectors have attempted to remove inevitable toning over the years by wiping them and creating hairlines, hence many lower quality examples are available.
Happily, this coin looks as though it just came off the press, retaining its semi-prooflike, virtually intact surfaces along with a full strike and beautiful pastel gold-greenish toning. Out of 65 uncirculated Crowns of this regnal year (LVIII) graded by NGC, only five have reached the MS65 level with none higher.
This beauty is a tremendous memento from the dawn of the industrial age of coinage. Don't miss the opportunity. (£2750-3250)