Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 123 23-24 May 2023
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HANOVER. William IV. 1830-1837. Proof Pattern AR Crown (39mm, 30.282 g, 12h). Dies by W. Wyon. Dated 1831. Bare head right. W. WYON on truncation / Crowned, collared, and mantled coat-of-arms. Edge: plain. L&S 3; Bull 2460; ESC 273; SCBC 3833. In NGC encapsulation 6516477-001, graded PF 61. Carefully struck in sterling silver on an overweight flan. An important and extremely rare Wyon pattern..
A copy of the Royal Mint's correspondence with the consignor is included.
William IV pattern Crowns dated 1831, struck from dies prepared by William Wyon and J. B. Merlen, are known from two distinct types. The most frequently encountered type is distinguished by the WW on truncation and an inverted die axis and was issued for the proof sets of this year (ESC 271; Bull 2462). Much rarer is the type with W. WYON on truncation and a medal die axis, such as the coin offered here (ESC 273; Bull 2460). At 30.28 grams our coin is some eight percent heavier than William IV Crowns of all types that we can find weights recorded for. The remarkable weight of this coin led our consignor to submit it to the Royal Mint Museum for examination. In their analysis the Mint noted that the coin was 'notably overweight' and shared an obverse die with undated pattern Crown of William IV in their collection (Hocking 1927). Furthermore the Royal Mint's study showed that the coin is struck in sterling silver as with the only other example of this W.WYON on truncation type they have examined whereas the WW on truncation with inverted die axis Crowns are apparently all struck in fine silver. Independent analysis undertaken by NGC confirms this significant discovery.
A copy of the Royal Mint's correspondence with the consignor is included.
William IV pattern Crowns dated 1831, struck from dies prepared by William Wyon and J. B. Merlen, are known from two distinct types. The most frequently encountered type is distinguished by the WW on truncation and an inverted die axis and was issued for the proof sets of this year (ESC 271; Bull 2462). Much rarer is the type with W. WYON on truncation and a medal die axis, such as the coin offered here (ESC 273; Bull 2460). At 30.28 grams our coin is some eight percent heavier than William IV Crowns of all types that we can find weights recorded for. The remarkable weight of this coin led our consignor to submit it to the Royal Mint Museum for examination. In their analysis the Mint noted that the coin was 'notably overweight' and shared an obverse die with undated pattern Crown of William IV in their collection (Hocking 1927). Furthermore the Royal Mint's study showed that the coin is struck in sterling silver as with the only other example of this W.WYON on truncation type they have examined whereas the WW on truncation with inverted die axis Crowns are apparently all struck in fine silver. Independent analysis undertaken by NGC confirms this significant discovery.