Baldwin & Sons
Auction 73 8 May 2012
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THE BENTLEY COLLECTION OF BRITISH MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS. George IV, Pattern Sovereign, 1825, engraved by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey’s model, second bare head left, date below, rosette either side, toothed border and raised rim both sides, GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA, rev struck with inverted die axis, by Jean Baptiste Merlen, crowned quartered shield of arms, with the arms of Hanover as an escutcheon, seven hearts in semee of Hanoverian lion, upper left lis of frame around Scottish lion detached only, Irish arms with nine harp strings, BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:, edge plain, 7.98g, 21.8mm (WR 235 R5; Montagu 929; Murdoch 382; Nobleman 137; DM 158; S 3801). Light tone, with some light hairlines and handling marks, two light scratches on cheek, otherwise good extremely fine and extremely rare
ex Property of a Gentleman, Spink Auction 117, 19 November 1997, lot 1979
We note for the first time in print that the lis of the Scottish arms on the second type of George IV are generally always detached. Also the semée of hearts in the Hanoverian Arms only displays seven hearts whereas the current version displays eight. Therefore this piece is an earlier pattern with a different reverse and edge to currency.
The milled edge 1825 proof carries eight hearts in the Hanoverian Arms like the currency pieces and is therefore struck later and is different to the plain edge piece above (that coin will be offered for sale in part two of the Bentley Collection).
All the denominations issued for the current new coinage of the second type of George IV in 1825 were also produced to proof quality, no doubt to present to officials and very important persons and in addition included a pattern gold Five Pounds, Two Pounds and silver Crown that were not current this year. Additionally Wyon himself would be able to supply proofs to whomever he pleased or to those who would commission him to do so. These rare proofs of 1825, were obviously in demand as they led directly to the sale of entire Proof Sets in cases from the next year of 1826. Proof Sets then began to be produced on a more regular basis for Coronations, Jubilees and new coinages.
Second Type
William Wyon
Jean Baptiste Merlen
The second standard design for the currency Sovereigns of King George IV from 1825-1830 inclusive had an obverse designed by William Wyon based upon the sculpted model bust by Francis Legatt Chantrey (1781-1841). A marble bust that the King was particularly pleased with, and which was first used as an inspirational model for the coinage on the gold Two Pound piece of 1823 engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen shown here.
The Second Type Obverse and Reverse of King George IV
The former abbreviated legend used on the first type obverse, now appears across both sides of the second type coins and in a fuller form, on obverse GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA and continuing on the reverse BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF: The lettering no longer has any decorative compartments. The reverse of the Sovereigns of this type, also engraved by Merlen, have a crowned quartered shield of arms, with an escutcheon of the Hanoverian Arms. It has been noted in the Bentley Collection catalogue for the first time that the semee of hearts in these Hanoverian Arms generally contains eight hearts. However it has been noted the 1825 plain edge proof only has seven, meaning it was an earlier pattern rendering of the reverse. Otherwise the reverse always depicts nine strings in the Irish harp, and some inner upper lis of the Scottish arms are detached from their frame. The straight grained milled edge continues.
The Reign of King George IV (1820-1830)
House of Hanover
Born: 12 August 1762
Accession: 29 January 1820
Married: Caroline of Brunswick 8 April 1795
later separated and banned from attending the Coronation
Coronation: Thursday, 19 July 1821
Child: one daughter Charlotte
who predeceased her Father 6 November 1817
Died: 26 June 1830, aged 67
Estimate: £8000-10,000
ex Property of a Gentleman, Spink Auction 117, 19 November 1997, lot 1979
We note for the first time in print that the lis of the Scottish arms on the second type of George IV are generally always detached. Also the semée of hearts in the Hanoverian Arms only displays seven hearts whereas the current version displays eight. Therefore this piece is an earlier pattern with a different reverse and edge to currency.
The milled edge 1825 proof carries eight hearts in the Hanoverian Arms like the currency pieces and is therefore struck later and is different to the plain edge piece above (that coin will be offered for sale in part two of the Bentley Collection).
All the denominations issued for the current new coinage of the second type of George IV in 1825 were also produced to proof quality, no doubt to present to officials and very important persons and in addition included a pattern gold Five Pounds, Two Pounds and silver Crown that were not current this year. Additionally Wyon himself would be able to supply proofs to whomever he pleased or to those who would commission him to do so. These rare proofs of 1825, were obviously in demand as they led directly to the sale of entire Proof Sets in cases from the next year of 1826. Proof Sets then began to be produced on a more regular basis for Coronations, Jubilees and new coinages.
Second Type
William Wyon
Jean Baptiste Merlen
The second standard design for the currency Sovereigns of King George IV from 1825-1830 inclusive had an obverse designed by William Wyon based upon the sculpted model bust by Francis Legatt Chantrey (1781-1841). A marble bust that the King was particularly pleased with, and which was first used as an inspirational model for the coinage on the gold Two Pound piece of 1823 engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen shown here.
The Second Type Obverse and Reverse of King George IV
The former abbreviated legend used on the first type obverse, now appears across both sides of the second type coins and in a fuller form, on obverse GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA and continuing on the reverse BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF: The lettering no longer has any decorative compartments. The reverse of the Sovereigns of this type, also engraved by Merlen, have a crowned quartered shield of arms, with an escutcheon of the Hanoverian Arms. It has been noted in the Bentley Collection catalogue for the first time that the semee of hearts in these Hanoverian Arms generally contains eight hearts. However it has been noted the 1825 plain edge proof only has seven, meaning it was an earlier pattern rendering of the reverse. Otherwise the reverse always depicts nine strings in the Irish harp, and some inner upper lis of the Scottish arms are detached from their frame. The straight grained milled edge continues.
The Reign of King George IV (1820-1830)
House of Hanover
Born: 12 August 1762
Accession: 29 January 1820
Married: Caroline of Brunswick 8 April 1795
later separated and banned from attending the Coronation
Coronation: Thursday, 19 July 1821
Child: one daughter Charlotte
who predeceased her Father 6 November 1817
Died: 26 June 1830, aged 67
Estimate: £8000-10,000