Baldwin & Sons
Auction 88 8 May 2014
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BRITISH COINS, MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS, George IV, Gold Pattern Sovereign, 1825, engraved by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey's model, second bare head left, date below, rosette either side, toothed border and raised rim both sides, legend reads georgius iv dei gratia, rev struck with coin die axis, by Jean Baptiste Merlen, crowned quartered shield of arms, with the arms of Hanover as an escutcheon, seven hearts in semée of Hanoverian lion, upper left lis of frame around Scottish lion detached only, Irish arms with nine harp strings, legend reads britanniarum rex fid: def:, edge plain (Bentley 17; WR 235 R5; Montagu 929; Murdoch 382; Nobleman 137; DM 158; S 3801). Light tone, some light surface marks and hairlines, otherwise a pleasing proof, practically as struck and extremely rare.
ex Union Bank of Switzerland, gold and numismatics auction 51, 21 January 2001, lot 834
The plain edge 1825 seven heart semée pattern Sovereign, was first catalogued properly in the Bentley collection with its different reverse shield to the currency coin.
The milled edge 1825 proof carries the usual eight hearts in the Hanoverian Arms like the currency pieces and is therefore likely struck later to the different plain edge piece above.
All the denominations issued for the current new coinage of the second type of George IV in 1825 were also produced to proof quality, no doubt to present to officials and very important persons and in addition included a pattern gold Five Pounds, Two Pounds and silver Crown that were not current this year. Additionally William Wyon himself would be able to supply proofs to whomever he pleased or to those who would commission him to do so. These rare proofs of 1825, were obviously in demand as they led directly to the sale of entire Proof Sets in cases from the next year of 1826. Proof Sets then began to be produced on a more regular basis for Coronations, Jubilees and new coinages.
Estimate: £7000-9000
ex Union Bank of Switzerland, gold and numismatics auction 51, 21 January 2001, lot 834
The plain edge 1825 seven heart semée pattern Sovereign, was first catalogued properly in the Bentley collection with its different reverse shield to the currency coin.
The milled edge 1825 proof carries the usual eight hearts in the Hanoverian Arms like the currency pieces and is therefore likely struck later to the different plain edge piece above.
All the denominations issued for the current new coinage of the second type of George IV in 1825 were also produced to proof quality, no doubt to present to officials and very important persons and in addition included a pattern gold Five Pounds, Two Pounds and silver Crown that were not current this year. Additionally William Wyon himself would be able to supply proofs to whomever he pleased or to those who would commission him to do so. These rare proofs of 1825, were obviously in demand as they led directly to the sale of entire Proof Sets in cases from the next year of 1826. Proof Sets then began to be produced on a more regular basis for Coronations, Jubilees and new coinages.
Estimate: £7000-9000