The New York Sale
Auction 49 15 Jan 2020
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Great Britain
William IV (1830-37), Silver Proof Crown of Five Shillings, 1831. Engraved by William Wyon, bare head right, W.W. incuse on truncation, legend and outer toothed border surrounding, GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:, toothed border around rim both sides, rev. quartered shield of arms with a crowned escutcheon of the Arms of Hanover, within Order of the Garter upon crowned robed mantle, date below, ANNO 1831, outer toothed border surrounding, edge plain, weight 26.88g (Bull 2462; L&S 1; ESC 271 R2; KM.715; S.3833). Attractively toned, some light imperfections in the toning, practically as struck, good extremely fine, and rare. Value $20,000 - UP
The magnificent silver Proof Crowns of King William IV are the largest portrait coins readily available of him. William Wyon produced them to go towards the complete proof sets dated for the year of his Coronation of which it is thought some 120+ sets were produced. The 1831 dated proof Crown exists in two varieties, the first that had Wyon's name spelt out in full in raised letters on the truncation, as Pistrucci had once done in the reign of George III. It seems this initial pattern was not accepted as the coin to go towards the proof set; as the die was altered to read merely W.W. incuse on the truncation as we have herewith, and for the bulk of the coins that exist today. Some very rare transitional pieces show a trace of the W.WYON with lines ruled over the top to erase it on the struck coins and the W.W. incuse to the left, but most show merely the W.W. incuse as we have demonstrated herewith.
The Latin legend translate as on the obverse "William the Fourth, by the grace of God, King of the Britons, Defender of the Faith" with the reverse as "In the year 1831.".
Purchased from Spink and Son Ltd. when at the New York International Coin Convention, 13th December 2000.
William IV (1830-37), Silver Proof Crown of Five Shillings, 1831. Engraved by William Wyon, bare head right, W.W. incuse on truncation, legend and outer toothed border surrounding, GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:, toothed border around rim both sides, rev. quartered shield of arms with a crowned escutcheon of the Arms of Hanover, within Order of the Garter upon crowned robed mantle, date below, ANNO 1831, outer toothed border surrounding, edge plain, weight 26.88g (Bull 2462; L&S 1; ESC 271 R2; KM.715; S.3833). Attractively toned, some light imperfections in the toning, practically as struck, good extremely fine, and rare. Value $20,000 - UP
The magnificent silver Proof Crowns of King William IV are the largest portrait coins readily available of him. William Wyon produced them to go towards the complete proof sets dated for the year of his Coronation of which it is thought some 120+ sets were produced. The 1831 dated proof Crown exists in two varieties, the first that had Wyon's name spelt out in full in raised letters on the truncation, as Pistrucci had once done in the reign of George III. It seems this initial pattern was not accepted as the coin to go towards the proof set; as the die was altered to read merely W.W. incuse on the truncation as we have herewith, and for the bulk of the coins that exist today. Some very rare transitional pieces show a trace of the W.WYON with lines ruled over the top to erase it on the struck coins and the W.W. incuse to the left, but most show merely the W.W. incuse as we have demonstrated herewith.
The Latin legend translate as on the obverse "William the Fourth, by the grace of God, King of the Britons, Defender of the Faith" with the reverse as "In the year 1831.".
Purchased from Spink and Son Ltd. when at the New York International Coin Convention, 13th December 2000.