Baldwin & Sons
Auction 73 8 May 2012
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THE BENTLEY COLLECTION OF BRITISH MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS. William IV (1830-1837), Proof Sovereign, 1831, by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey’s model, second bare head right with coarse hair and flat topped, deeply engraved ear, W.W. incuse fully on truncation, nose points to second I in BRITANNIAR, GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR REX F: D:, finely toothed border and raised rim both sides, coarse bead like border teeth, rev struck with inverted die axis, by Jean Baptiste Merlen, crowned quartered shield of arms, with the arms of Hanover as an escutcheon, Irish arms with eight harp strings, ANNO 1831 below, finer taller border teeth, edge plain, 8.04g, 21.8mm (WR 261 R3; Montagu 1084; Murdoch 440; Nobleman 205/6; DM 179; S 3829B). Lightly hairlined in fields and toned, otherwise mint state and rare
The standard design for the currency Sovereigns of King William IV from 1830-1837 inclusive was engraved by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey’s model, and consists of two bare headed bust types and one standard reverse. Both bust types have the same legend reading GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR REX F: D:
The first bust obverse has more finely engraved hair most noticeable on the top of his head and a more rounded ear. The position of the bust in relation to the legend dictates that his nose points to the second letter N in BRITANNIAR. The first bust obverse has border teeth that are quite fine and tall, and more in number when compared with obverse two.
The second obverse has coarser hair, a flat top to the ear and the nose points to the second I in BRITANNIAR. The border teeth also differ from the first bust as the obverse teeth are of a coarser wide spread rendering, with less depth. The majority of the coinage of William IV Sovereigns, depict this obverse, including the very first pattern piece of 1830. It seems the demarcation of second bust relates really to its use ending with the reign in 1837, as the first bust type finishes first by 1832. The reverse teeth on the second bust obverse coins are similar to the first bust obverse ones, and are taller and finer than those on the obverse of the second bust coins.
The reverses of William IV engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, always carry eight strings in the Irish harp with a diagonal line running through them depicting the rear of the bottom harp body. The inner arches of the crown above have thirteen pearls on each side, and five more run diagonally up each side of the central upright. There are nine varied jewels on the crown band. There is a short legend reading to the lower left ANNO and the date to the lower right. The edges are milled as usual. There was no issue in or dated 1834.
The Reign of King William IV (1830-1837)
House of Hanover
Born: 21 August 1765
Accession: 26 June 1830
Married: Adelaide of Saxe-Coburg and Meiningen, 11 July 1818
after first meeting a week before,
a double wedding with his brother,
Prince Edward the Duke of Kent.
Coronation: Thursday, 8 September 1831
Children: two daughters who both died in childhood,
ten illegitimate children previously
Died: 20 June 1837, aged 71
ex Spink Numismatic Circular, March 1995, item 1118
It is interesting to see that the second bust rendition was used for the proof coin as issued for the Coronation proof sets in 1831. Most current coins of 1831 carry the first bust, as in the next lot, whilst the second bust in currency for 1831 is extremely rare, see lot 26 for an example of this. Strangely the 1830 Pattern also carries the second bust portrait (Bentley Collection part two) and the 1832 proof (Bentley Collection part three) carries the first bust. There are also extremely rare first bust Sovereigns of 1832 in currency, see lot 27. Therefore the chronology does not follow in reality as their referencing suggests. The second bust turned out to be the most prolific in this reign, being used consistently from 1832 till the end of the reign. Both busts must have been used concurrently at times but the only reason they can accurately be called first and second bust is based on when they were phased out rather than when they were first used. For further reading, see an article by Harold Mountain in the Spink Numismatic Circular October 1984 page 255 “Two Kinds of William IIII Sovereigns”
The Coronation of William IV took place on 8 September 1831 and all the denominations issued for the current new coinage were also produced to proof quality in Coronation proof sets. These undoubtedly were made to present to officials and very important persons, and in addition to current 1831 dated denominations included a proof gold Two Pounds and silver Crown, Halfcrown and Shilling that were not current that year. Additionally William Wyon himself would be able to supply proofs to whomever he pleased or to those who would commission him to do so. The 1831 Proof Set is generally accepted as the second Proof Set available from the Royal Mint, the first being 1826, though “sets” can be put together of coins of 1821 and 1825 as well.
The first bust obverse has more finely engraved hair most noticeable on the top of his head and a more rounded ear. The position of the bust in relation to the legend dictates that his nose points to the second letter N in BRITANNIAR. The first bust obverse has border teeth that are quite fine and tall, and more in number when compared with obverse two.
The second obverse has coarser hair, a flat top to the ear and the nose points to the second I in BRITANNIAR. The border teeth also differ from the first bust as the obverse teeth are of a coarser wide spread rendering, with less depth. The majority of the coinage of William IV Sovereigns, depict this obverse, including the very first pattern piece of 1830. It seems the demarcation of second bust relates really to its use ending with the reign in 1837, as the first bust type finishes first by 1832. The reverse teeth on the second bust obverse coins are similar to the first bust obverse ones, and are taller and finer than those on the obverse of the second bust coins.
The reverses of William IV engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, always carry eight strings in the Irish harp with a diagonal line running through them depicting the rear of the bottom harp body. The inner arches of the crown above have thirteen pearls on each side, and five more run diagonally up each side of the central upright. There are nine varied jewels on the crown band. There is a short legend reading to the lower left ANNO and the date to the lower right. The edges are milled as usual. There was no issue in or dated 1834.
Estimate: £4000-4500
The standard design for the currency Sovereigns of King William IV from 1830-1837 inclusive was engraved by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey’s model, and consists of two bare headed bust types and one standard reverse. Both bust types have the same legend reading GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR REX F: D:
The first bust obverse has more finely engraved hair most noticeable on the top of his head and a more rounded ear. The position of the bust in relation to the legend dictates that his nose points to the second letter N in BRITANNIAR. The first bust obverse has border teeth that are quite fine and tall, and more in number when compared with obverse two.
The second obverse has coarser hair, a flat top to the ear and the nose points to the second I in BRITANNIAR. The border teeth also differ from the first bust as the obverse teeth are of a coarser wide spread rendering, with less depth. The majority of the coinage of William IV Sovereigns, depict this obverse, including the very first pattern piece of 1830. It seems the demarcation of second bust relates really to its use ending with the reign in 1837, as the first bust type finishes first by 1832. The reverse teeth on the second bust obverse coins are similar to the first bust obverse ones, and are taller and finer than those on the obverse of the second bust coins.
The reverses of William IV engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, always carry eight strings in the Irish harp with a diagonal line running through them depicting the rear of the bottom harp body. The inner arches of the crown above have thirteen pearls on each side, and five more run diagonally up each side of the central upright. There are nine varied jewels on the crown band. There is a short legend reading to the lower left ANNO and the date to the lower right. The edges are milled as usual. There was no issue in or dated 1834.
The Reign of King William IV (1830-1837)
House of Hanover
Born: 21 August 1765
Accession: 26 June 1830
Married: Adelaide of Saxe-Coburg and Meiningen, 11 July 1818
after first meeting a week before,
a double wedding with his brother,
Prince Edward the Duke of Kent.
Coronation: Thursday, 8 September 1831
Children: two daughters who both died in childhood,
ten illegitimate children previously
Died: 20 June 1837, aged 71
ex Spink Numismatic Circular, March 1995, item 1118
It is interesting to see that the second bust rendition was used for the proof coin as issued for the Coronation proof sets in 1831. Most current coins of 1831 carry the first bust, as in the next lot, whilst the second bust in currency for 1831 is extremely rare, see lot 26 for an example of this. Strangely the 1830 Pattern also carries the second bust portrait (Bentley Collection part two) and the 1832 proof (Bentley Collection part three) carries the first bust. There are also extremely rare first bust Sovereigns of 1832 in currency, see lot 27. Therefore the chronology does not follow in reality as their referencing suggests. The second bust turned out to be the most prolific in this reign, being used consistently from 1832 till the end of the reign. Both busts must have been used concurrently at times but the only reason they can accurately be called first and second bust is based on when they were phased out rather than when they were first used. For further reading, see an article by Harold Mountain in the Spink Numismatic Circular October 1984 page 255 “Two Kinds of William IIII Sovereigns”
The Coronation of William IV took place on 8 September 1831 and all the denominations issued for the current new coinage were also produced to proof quality in Coronation proof sets. These undoubtedly were made to present to officials and very important persons, and in addition to current 1831 dated denominations included a proof gold Two Pounds and silver Crown, Halfcrown and Shilling that were not current that year. Additionally William Wyon himself would be able to supply proofs to whomever he pleased or to those who would commission him to do so. The 1831 Proof Set is generally accepted as the second Proof Set available from the Royal Mint, the first being 1826, though “sets” can be put together of coins of 1821 and 1825 as well.
The first bust obverse has more finely engraved hair most noticeable on the top of his head and a more rounded ear. The position of the bust in relation to the legend dictates that his nose points to the second letter N in BRITANNIAR. The first bust obverse has border teeth that are quite fine and tall, and more in number when compared with obverse two.
The second obverse has coarser hair, a flat top to the ear and the nose points to the second I in BRITANNIAR. The border teeth also differ from the first bust as the obverse teeth are of a coarser wide spread rendering, with less depth. The majority of the coinage of William IV Sovereigns, depict this obverse, including the very first pattern piece of 1830. It seems the demarcation of second bust relates really to its use ending with the reign in 1837, as the first bust type finishes first by 1832. The reverse teeth on the second bust obverse coins are similar to the first bust obverse ones, and are taller and finer than those on the obverse of the second bust coins.
The reverses of William IV engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, always carry eight strings in the Irish harp with a diagonal line running through them depicting the rear of the bottom harp body. The inner arches of the crown above have thirteen pearls on each side, and five more run diagonally up each side of the central upright. There are nine varied jewels on the crown band. There is a short legend reading to the lower left ANNO and the date to the lower right. The edges are milled as usual. There was no issue in or dated 1834.
Estimate: £4000-4500