Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 2 24 Sep 2019
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Very Unusual Pattern Issue in White Metal of King George IV
George IV (1820-30), Pattern or Trial Piece for a medallic Crown, undated, struck in white metal, engraved by Merlen, obverse after Pistrucci, laureate head left, legend and linear raised rim surrounding, GEORGIUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F:D:, rev. struck en medaille, quartered shield of arms at centre with a crowned escutcheon of the Arms of Hanover, within Order of the Garter with legend HONI. SOIT. QUI. MAL. Y. PENSE., Royal helmet and plumes of ostrich feathers above, crowned lion rampant at left, unicorn with chain and crown at right, emblematic banner scroll below with legend DIEU ET MON DROIT, Gothic M below for engraver Merlen, weight 16.02g (Bull 2353 R6; L&S 43; ESC 265A R6). One dig in obverse field, rim bruise on reverse, toned, extremely fine and extremely rare.
The reason for striking these rare white metal pieces is not known but is assumed to be from the end of the reign of George IV rather than the start as the bust type would perhaps usually suggest. There is at least one commemorative medallion by Merlin that exists with this obverse coupled with a different localised reverse, and the high medallic rim and die axis perhaps suggest more of a medallic use. The numismatists of Victorian times highly regarded these pieces and at one time only one of each reverse type (there is another pattern of differing design without the M below) was known, which resulted in the high rarity rating as given in English Silver coinage. Since Victorian times a few more have appeared for sale and a fairer rating would perhaps be R5 now for this intriguing piece.
Jean Baptiste Merlen (c.1769-1844) was of Flemish origin and had worked under the First Empire in France before coming to England at the request of Benedetto Pistrucci. He was appointed Assistant Engraver at the Royal Mint in February 1820 under William Wellesley Pole in a temporary capacity, and was therefore paid weekly rather than on an annual salary until his retirement in 1844 aged 75, as he was not of British origin. He worked on most of the reverses of the English coins in the period 1820-44 including the reverse of the William IV 1831 Crown.
Provenance:
Ex Heritage, New York Signature Sale, 6th January 2013, lot 20912.
Ex London Coins, Auction 147, 6th December 2014, lot 2053.
Ex London Coins, Auction 148, 28th February 2015, lot 1782.
George IV (1820-30), Pattern or Trial Piece for a medallic Crown, undated, struck in white metal, engraved by Merlen, obverse after Pistrucci, laureate head left, legend and linear raised rim surrounding, GEORGIUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F:D:, rev. struck en medaille, quartered shield of arms at centre with a crowned escutcheon of the Arms of Hanover, within Order of the Garter with legend HONI. SOIT. QUI. MAL. Y. PENSE., Royal helmet and plumes of ostrich feathers above, crowned lion rampant at left, unicorn with chain and crown at right, emblematic banner scroll below with legend DIEU ET MON DROIT, Gothic M below for engraver Merlen, weight 16.02g (Bull 2353 R6; L&S 43; ESC 265A R6). One dig in obverse field, rim bruise on reverse, toned, extremely fine and extremely rare.
The reason for striking these rare white metal pieces is not known but is assumed to be from the end of the reign of George IV rather than the start as the bust type would perhaps usually suggest. There is at least one commemorative medallion by Merlin that exists with this obverse coupled with a different localised reverse, and the high medallic rim and die axis perhaps suggest more of a medallic use. The numismatists of Victorian times highly regarded these pieces and at one time only one of each reverse type (there is another pattern of differing design without the M below) was known, which resulted in the high rarity rating as given in English Silver coinage. Since Victorian times a few more have appeared for sale and a fairer rating would perhaps be R5 now for this intriguing piece.
Jean Baptiste Merlen (c.1769-1844) was of Flemish origin and had worked under the First Empire in France before coming to England at the request of Benedetto Pistrucci. He was appointed Assistant Engraver at the Royal Mint in February 1820 under William Wellesley Pole in a temporary capacity, and was therefore paid weekly rather than on an annual salary until his retirement in 1844 aged 75, as he was not of British origin. He worked on most of the reverses of the English coins in the period 1820-44 including the reverse of the William IV 1831 Crown.
Provenance:
Ex Heritage, New York Signature Sale, 6th January 2013, lot 20912.
Ex London Coins, Auction 147, 6th December 2014, lot 2053.
Ex London Coins, Auction 148, 28th February 2015, lot 1782.