Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 10 22 Sep 2017
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British Coins and Medals, George IV, pattern crown in silver, 1825, bare head l., rev. crowned shield of arms over mantle, edge plain (S.3806; ESC.255 [R3]; Bull 2331; L&S.20), a superb example of one of the rarest crown patterns of the nineteenth century, featuring a full impression of the dies producing crisp details, completely free of blemishes, with mirrored surfaces exhibiting delightful pinkish blue iridescent toning; the finest we have seen, truly a treasure, FDC
Engraving genius William Wyon produced this splendidly detailed portrait of King George IV reputedly at the behest of the king, who found himself inspired by a marble bust of himself crafted by Francis Legett Chantrey, which Wyon dutifully copied. The king had disliked the first image of his profile, created by 'that Italian', Benedetto Pistrucci. He was a vain monarch. Pistrucci's 'Laureate Head' did not do justice to his elegant features. It made him look too pompous, too much like a Roman emperor, or so he must have thought. In fact it was a realistic portrait. Wyon's new image made him appear thinner, more the refined English gentleman. For the revised coinage of 1825 onward, it was paired with the magnificent, crowned royal shield engraved by J.B. Merlen. Its baroque quality was much in keeping with the king's preferences in art, as evidenced perhaps most vividly by the style of his retreat at Brighton. In this pattern, then, we see majesty portrayed at its most splendid, as the king himself preferred it. In the following year, this pattern was re-dated 1826 and produced as a proof for inclusion in the 'long' Proof Set, but these two coins are the only means of collecting the crown of this Bare Head style. In rarity, the 1826 pales by comparison to this pattern of the previous year, the year of inspiration for the revised coinage. (35000-40000 GBP)
Engraving genius William Wyon produced this splendidly detailed portrait of King George IV reputedly at the behest of the king, who found himself inspired by a marble bust of himself crafted by Francis Legett Chantrey, which Wyon dutifully copied. The king had disliked the first image of his profile, created by 'that Italian', Benedetto Pistrucci. He was a vain monarch. Pistrucci's 'Laureate Head' did not do justice to his elegant features. It made him look too pompous, too much like a Roman emperor, or so he must have thought. In fact it was a realistic portrait. Wyon's new image made him appear thinner, more the refined English gentleman. For the revised coinage of 1825 onward, it was paired with the magnificent, crowned royal shield engraved by J.B. Merlen. Its baroque quality was much in keeping with the king's preferences in art, as evidenced perhaps most vividly by the style of his retreat at Brighton. In this pattern, then, we see majesty portrayed at its most splendid, as the king himself preferred it. In the following year, this pattern was re-dated 1826 and produced as a proof for inclusion in the 'long' Proof Set, but these two coins are the only means of collecting the crown of this Bare Head style. In rarity, the 1826 pales by comparison to this pattern of the previous year, the year of inspiration for the revised coinage. (35000-40000 GBP)