Baldwin & Sons
Auction 73 8 May 2012
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THE BENTLEY COLLECTION OF BRITISH MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS. William IV, Sovereign, 1836, extra letter N in shield variety, second bare head right, W.W. slightly doubled incuse on truncation, first W meets field, coarse border teeth, rev crowned quartered shield of arms, with the arms of Hanover as an escutcheon, extra letter N struck in lower left of shield frame, date below, upper right of 3 broken, 7.99g (Marsh 20A R3; MCE 493; S 3829B). Some light surface marks, good very fine, reverse better and extremely rare, fewer than ten specimens known of which this is amongst the finest.
ex Spink Auction 5014, 28 September 2005, lot 1701
Calendar year mintage 1,714,349
The most striking rarity in the currency series of William IV is the “N in shield” variety discovered just over a decade ago, and still numbering to less than ten specimens known. An engraver’s die error, the N of ANNO has been misplaced too high on the die and intrudes the shield design giving a spectacular error of which this example is amongst the finest known. The error in the die must have been discovered quickly at the time as not many survive from what is a relatively high mintage. This specimen was one of the first two discovered and the second to ever appear for sale, the other was a lesser grade specimen.
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)
N in Shield
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
Estimate: £12,000-15,000
ex Spink Auction 5014, 28 September 2005, lot 1701
Calendar year mintage 1,714,349
The most striking rarity in the currency series of William IV is the “N in shield” variety discovered just over a decade ago, and still numbering to less than ten specimens known. An engraver’s die error, the N of ANNO has been misplaced too high on the die and intrudes the shield design giving a spectacular error of which this example is amongst the finest known. The error in the die must have been discovered quickly at the time as not many survive from what is a relatively high mintage. This specimen was one of the first two discovered and the second to ever appear for sale, the other was a lesser grade specimen.
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)
N in Shield
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
Estimate: £12,000-15,000