Baldwin & Sons
Auction 73 8 May 2012
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THE BENTLEY COLLECTION OF BRITISH MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS. George III, Proof Sovereign, 1817, engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci, first laureate head right, coarse hair, laurel wreath of 10 leaves, date below, descending colon after BRITANNIAR:, lettering clear of raised rim, legend GEORGIUS III D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:, third I of III missing its top left serif, rev struck with inverted die axis, St George on horseback slaying dragon right with broken lance, helmet with flowing streamer, ground-line with BP incuse to left, all within horizontally ruled garter with buckle, W W P incuse on sides of buckle, garter motto HONI. SOIT. QUI. MAL. Y. PENSE., I of HONI missing its top left serif, edge milled, 8.00g (WR 197 R5; Murdoch 192; Nobleman 47; DM 140; S 3785). Some red tone spots and tiny associated hairline surface marks, otherwise brilliant as struck and extremely rare.
ex Randy Weir Numismatics, Unionville, Ontario, Canada, purchased c.1990 – appropriately the first major proof rarity purchased for the collection.
One of the key features of the design of this proof as adopted and engraved for currency by Pistrucci are the wreath of 10 leaves and the date below the bust, coupled of course with St George slaying the dragon. Some of the letters in the legend lack serifs, no doubt due to blockages or faulty letter punches with corner serifs broken off being employed. A discussion about these is highlighted in a note on varieties at the start of this catalogue.
The Reign of King George III (1760-1820)
House of Hanover
Born: 4 June 1738
Accession: 25 October 1760
Married: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 8 September 1761
the day they met for the first time.
Coronation: Tuesday, 22 September 1761
Children: nine sons, six daughters
Died: 29 January 1820, aged 81
Estimate: £15,000-20,000
ex Randy Weir Numismatics, Unionville, Ontario, Canada, purchased c.1990 – appropriately the first major proof rarity purchased for the collection.
One of the key features of the design of this proof as adopted and engraved for currency by Pistrucci are the wreath of 10 leaves and the date below the bust, coupled of course with St George slaying the dragon. Some of the letters in the legend lack serifs, no doubt due to blockages or faulty letter punches with corner serifs broken off being employed. A discussion about these is highlighted in a note on varieties at the start of this catalogue.
The Reign of King George III (1760-1820)
House of Hanover
Born: 4 June 1738
Accession: 25 October 1760
Married: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 8 September 1761
the day they met for the first time.
Coronation: Tuesday, 22 September 1761
Children: nine sons, six daughters
Died: 29 January 1820, aged 81
Estimate: £15,000-20,000