Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3071 6-7 Jan 2019
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Great Britain
George IV silver Proof Pattern 1/2 Crown ND (c. 1824-1825) PR65 NGC, ESC-2392 (R7). By W. Binfield. A pattern so rare as to be almost unknown, with only two examples recorded. Its more common copper counterpart is occasionally seen at auction ('more common' in this context meaning R6, fewer than 5 known) and always attracts significant attention from collectors, but this is one of the first occurrences of the silver pattern, the intended metal for this design, appearing for sale. Benedetto Pistrucci, engraver of George III's post-1816 coinage and the early designs for George IV, was asked by the king to copy a marble bust of himself for his portrait on the coinage; this bust was performed by Francis Leggatt Chantrey and adored by George. Pistrucci's refusal led to the discontinuation of his services in 1822, and the selection of a new engraver who would do as the king wished: William Wyon. This heralded the introduction of Wyon's "bare head" portrait of the king from 1825.
However, this account omits another's attempt to gain the king's favour through their engraving, W. Binfield. A medallist of the Birmingham school who was active in both London and Paris in the early 19th century, Binfield saw opportunity to demonstrate his skill and hopefully claim patronage for his engraving, an attempt represented here through his pattern Halfcrown. Presumed to be modeled from the same bust as Wyon's portrait, this design shows a similar style to that adopted in 1825, but shows the king in a laureate wreath (a hangover from Pistrucci's portrait). The reverse is quite different from any other coinage design, bearing the value written as "2s 6d" (no value had been written on a Halfcrown since 1660) divided by a caduceus surmounted by a trident within a laureate wreath. As attractive and dynamic as the design is, it speaks more of a medal than a coin, and explains why it was not adopted and Binfield continued his career as a medallist as opposed to a designer of coinage. In any case, this pattern has been superbly engraved and exhibits immense skill, the immaculate surfaces gently toned to a moody golden glow. A silver specimen of this type is recorded to have been in the Montagu collection, and a different coin to the present offering is illustrated in ESC - accordingly, one presumes that there are at least two examples extant. But with no auction comparables available, it is clear that this offering, the opportunity to own this pattern, will not come again anytime soon. For any specialist collector with a focus on British patterns, now is the time to add this coin to your collection, or else it might be never.
From the Butler Family Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 7000-9000 USD
George IV silver Proof Pattern 1/2 Crown ND (c. 1824-1825) PR65 NGC, ESC-2392 (R7). By W. Binfield. A pattern so rare as to be almost unknown, with only two examples recorded. Its more common copper counterpart is occasionally seen at auction ('more common' in this context meaning R6, fewer than 5 known) and always attracts significant attention from collectors, but this is one of the first occurrences of the silver pattern, the intended metal for this design, appearing for sale. Benedetto Pistrucci, engraver of George III's post-1816 coinage and the early designs for George IV, was asked by the king to copy a marble bust of himself for his portrait on the coinage; this bust was performed by Francis Leggatt Chantrey and adored by George. Pistrucci's refusal led to the discontinuation of his services in 1822, and the selection of a new engraver who would do as the king wished: William Wyon. This heralded the introduction of Wyon's "bare head" portrait of the king from 1825.
However, this account omits another's attempt to gain the king's favour through their engraving, W. Binfield. A medallist of the Birmingham school who was active in both London and Paris in the early 19th century, Binfield saw opportunity to demonstrate his skill and hopefully claim patronage for his engraving, an attempt represented here through his pattern Halfcrown. Presumed to be modeled from the same bust as Wyon's portrait, this design shows a similar style to that adopted in 1825, but shows the king in a laureate wreath (a hangover from Pistrucci's portrait). The reverse is quite different from any other coinage design, bearing the value written as "2s 6d" (no value had been written on a Halfcrown since 1660) divided by a caduceus surmounted by a trident within a laureate wreath. As attractive and dynamic as the design is, it speaks more of a medal than a coin, and explains why it was not adopted and Binfield continued his career as a medallist as opposed to a designer of coinage. In any case, this pattern has been superbly engraved and exhibits immense skill, the immaculate surfaces gently toned to a moody golden glow. A silver specimen of this type is recorded to have been in the Montagu collection, and a different coin to the present offering is illustrated in ESC - accordingly, one presumes that there are at least two examples extant. But with no auction comparables available, it is clear that this offering, the opportunity to own this pattern, will not come again anytime soon. For any specialist collector with a focus on British patterns, now is the time to add this coin to your collection, or else it might be never.
From the Butler Family Collection
HID02901242017
Estimate: 7000-9000 USD