Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
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Great Britain
George IV silver Proof Pattern Crown 1820, by Mills for Whiteaves, ESC-259 (R3), PR64 NGC. A singular example of this rare pattern type, the meticulous strike preserved on impeccable surfaces. Glossy fields colored by beautiful and original gray toning flash iridescent in hand. An excerpt from the wonderful description of this crown in our September 2012 Long Beach catalog:"This extraordinarily imaginative pattern was engraved by the young George Mills (1792-1824), who earlier worked with Thomas Webb on the undated pattern crown for George III of 1817. Each coin clearly stands apart conceptually from most British designs. Here on this pattern of 1820, Mills portrayed the monarch with a large left-facing bust whose curly hair seems to flow in the wind towards whatever he is viewing, an image expressive of future potential, with a curtailed royal title surrounding and the date given as MDCCCXX below. On the reverse, Mills shows the regal crest with a squared shield, Hanover arms at center, crowned with a flowing mantle, and supported by a crowned lion and a unicorn shown in chains, under which are suspended the royal badges. The king's titles continue from the obverse around the reverse shield. The raised rims are sharply squared off, with the edge unmarked. Mills signed his work on the neck line of the portrait in tiny raised letters. The famous Whiteaves attribution appears in similar raised lettering along the rim at the bottom of the reverse. All in all, no engraver, Pistrucci included, ever created a more stunning pattern crown."
Estimate: 15000-20000 USD
George IV silver Proof Pattern Crown 1820, by Mills for Whiteaves, ESC-259 (R3), PR64 NGC. A singular example of this rare pattern type, the meticulous strike preserved on impeccable surfaces. Glossy fields colored by beautiful and original gray toning flash iridescent in hand. An excerpt from the wonderful description of this crown in our September 2012 Long Beach catalog:"This extraordinarily imaginative pattern was engraved by the young George Mills (1792-1824), who earlier worked with Thomas Webb on the undated pattern crown for George III of 1817. Each coin clearly stands apart conceptually from most British designs. Here on this pattern of 1820, Mills portrayed the monarch with a large left-facing bust whose curly hair seems to flow in the wind towards whatever he is viewing, an image expressive of future potential, with a curtailed royal title surrounding and the date given as MDCCCXX below. On the reverse, Mills shows the regal crest with a squared shield, Hanover arms at center, crowned with a flowing mantle, and supported by a crowned lion and a unicorn shown in chains, under which are suspended the royal badges. The king's titles continue from the obverse around the reverse shield. The raised rims are sharply squared off, with the edge unmarked. Mills signed his work on the neck line of the portrait in tiny raised letters. The famous Whiteaves attribution appears in similar raised lettering along the rim at the bottom of the reverse. All in all, no engraver, Pistrucci included, ever created a more stunning pattern crown."
Estimate: 15000-20000 USD