Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 20 26 Sep 2018
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British Coins, William IV, pattern sovereign, 1830, plain edge, second portrait, bare head r., rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3829B; W&R.260 [R5, 6-10 known]; Nobleman 203; DM.178), evidence of some handling, bold proof impression, beautifully mirrored fields surrounding frosted images of the king and his royal shield, certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 62 Deep Cameo, only one other example graded PF62DC by PCGS
Victoria's uncle reigned just short of a decade, having spent most of his adult life in the Royal Navy, where he was influential in its modernisation and as a result of which he was sometimes called 'the sailor king' by admirers, who were relatively few as he was not an outgoing person; he seemed lacking in many kingly qualities, doubtless as a result of his experience at sea and in the Admiralty until his older brother, George IV, left the crown to him. The kingdom itself enjoyed prosperity during these years, which marked the end of the Romantic Age in the arts. Politically and militarily this was the beginning of the modern empire; it would be Victoria who led the nation into a new period of military might, but it was her Uncle William who prepared the way by advancing the naval forces. William's coinage included tiny silver and bronze coins made purposely for use in far-flung reaches of the empire, where few of his subjects would encounter his gold sovereigns and none would ever have set eyes on a coin like this, a deluxe proof specially made to show off the coin's qualities to best advantage, and an image of the king as custodian of the realm. Commercial sovereigns of this reign are invariably entirely different from this coin, as their lustre is satiny, whereas here we see the king's image set off by watery mirrored fields. J. B. Merlen's elegant royal shield on reverse also captivates the viewer's eye. 'Regal' is a fitting description of this very rare golden treasure.
(10000-12500 GBP)
Victoria's uncle reigned just short of a decade, having spent most of his adult life in the Royal Navy, where he was influential in its modernisation and as a result of which he was sometimes called 'the sailor king' by admirers, who were relatively few as he was not an outgoing person; he seemed lacking in many kingly qualities, doubtless as a result of his experience at sea and in the Admiralty until his older brother, George IV, left the crown to him. The kingdom itself enjoyed prosperity during these years, which marked the end of the Romantic Age in the arts. Politically and militarily this was the beginning of the modern empire; it would be Victoria who led the nation into a new period of military might, but it was her Uncle William who prepared the way by advancing the naval forces. William's coinage included tiny silver and bronze coins made purposely for use in far-flung reaches of the empire, where few of his subjects would encounter his gold sovereigns and none would ever have set eyes on a coin like this, a deluxe proof specially made to show off the coin's qualities to best advantage, and an image of the king as custodian of the realm. Commercial sovereigns of this reign are invariably entirely different from this coin, as their lustre is satiny, whereas here we see the king's image set off by watery mirrored fields. J. B. Merlen's elegant royal shield on reverse also captivates the viewer's eye. 'Regal' is a fitting description of this very rare golden treasure.
(10000-12500 GBP)