Baldwin & Sons
Auction 88 8 May 2014
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BRITISH COINS, MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS, William IV, Gold Sovereign, 1831, first bare head right with finer hair and round topped ear, nose points to second N in britanniar, w.w. incuse on truncation with indistinct stops, finer toothed border and raised rim both sides, rev crowned quartered shield of arms, with the arms of Hanover as an escutcheon, date below, edge milled (Bentley 25; Marsh 16 R2; MCE 489; S 3829). Cleaned and hairlined, with reverse rim bruise, otherwise bold very fine. Calendar year mintage 598,547
Even though 1831 is the initial year of mintage for William IV it is also the lowest calendar output from the mint for this reign and the first bust if therefore very rare. This output is not even five times higher than the extremely rare Victorian 1841 issue.
This coin demonstrates the other bust type for William IV with rounded ear and a different arrangement of legend in relation to bust. The design was called the first bust not because of when its use commenced, but rather because of when it was phased out and was in concurrent use with the second bust on coins dated 1831 and 1832.
Estimate: £1500-2000
Even though 1831 is the initial year of mintage for William IV it is also the lowest calendar output from the mint for this reign and the first bust if therefore very rare. This output is not even five times higher than the extremely rare Victorian 1841 issue.
This coin demonstrates the other bust type for William IV with rounded ear and a different arrangement of legend in relation to bust. The design was called the first bust not because of when its use commenced, but rather because of when it was phased out and was in concurrent use with the second bust on coins dated 1831 and 1832.
Estimate: £1500-2000