St. James's Auctions
Auction 86 28 Feb 2024
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Elizabeth II, proof 'VIP' crown, 1960, young laureate head right, rev. four cruciform shields of the united kingdoms, crown at centre, in the angles the national emblems-thistle, rose, shamrock and leek-with the date split around the bottom emblem, reeded edge (S.4143; ESC.4338), certified and graded by NGC as Proof-66 Ultra Cameo (frosted finish), a stunning specimen of superb quality
Three others graded as Proof-66 Ultra Cameo, by NGC, two graded higher.
The Royal Mint gained a new deputy master in 1957 with the appointment of Sir Jack James, a boss known to be highly energetic and in favour of making the nation's coins available to collectors. He was eager to satisfy customers with specially made examples-so much so that in 1964 he established a 'specimen coin section' to produce such coins, including marketing to overseas customers. It was part of the Medals Department and employed some 70 workmen for this purpose. Earlier, the Royal Mint Advisory Committee had asked the queen's husband to preside over the committee, and the Duke of Edinburgh gladly accepted the duty. Its first work was to invite 17 artists to create portraits of the new queen in 1952. As most collectors know, the chosen artist was Mary Gillick, an elderly Londoner who prepared her portrait after being granted a personal sitting with Elizabeth. The image was lifelike, clean in design, and much lauded. It appeared on most of the initial coinage dated 1953. However, tradition was departed from in the case of the crown, the largest coin made of cupro-nickel alloy. In place of a portrait, the crowns of 1953 show the queen on horseback, inspired by one of the queen's favourite ceremonies, the Trooping of the Colour-designed by Gilbert Ledward. The reverse was traditional, a modernistic cruciform with a crown at centre-designed by Edgar Fuller and Cecil Thomas. The edge inscription on Elizabeth II's first crown reads FAITH AND TRUTH I WILL BEAR UNTO YOU (part of the Oath of Homage from the coronation service). In 1960, in line with the ambitions of Sir Jack, the Royal Mint travelled to New York City where it set up an exhibition at the British Trade Exposition. The decision was made to issue a special, new crown-this one featuring Gillick's much-admired portrait on the obverse, combined with the reverse design of the 1953 crown. Medals were made on-site for sale at the exhibition, but the special crowns were struck in London at the Royal Mint. They differed from ordinary coins of the period by having been struck from polished dies, lending a superior appearance much like a proof. In addition to those, a tiny number (believed to be 20 or fewer) were created with especially deep strikes, in proof state-one of the finest of which is offered here.
Estimate: 4000 - 5000 GBP
Three others graded as Proof-66 Ultra Cameo, by NGC, two graded higher.
The Royal Mint gained a new deputy master in 1957 with the appointment of Sir Jack James, a boss known to be highly energetic and in favour of making the nation's coins available to collectors. He was eager to satisfy customers with specially made examples-so much so that in 1964 he established a 'specimen coin section' to produce such coins, including marketing to overseas customers. It was part of the Medals Department and employed some 70 workmen for this purpose. Earlier, the Royal Mint Advisory Committee had asked the queen's husband to preside over the committee, and the Duke of Edinburgh gladly accepted the duty. Its first work was to invite 17 artists to create portraits of the new queen in 1952. As most collectors know, the chosen artist was Mary Gillick, an elderly Londoner who prepared her portrait after being granted a personal sitting with Elizabeth. The image was lifelike, clean in design, and much lauded. It appeared on most of the initial coinage dated 1953. However, tradition was departed from in the case of the crown, the largest coin made of cupro-nickel alloy. In place of a portrait, the crowns of 1953 show the queen on horseback, inspired by one of the queen's favourite ceremonies, the Trooping of the Colour-designed by Gilbert Ledward. The reverse was traditional, a modernistic cruciform with a crown at centre-designed by Edgar Fuller and Cecil Thomas. The edge inscription on Elizabeth II's first crown reads FAITH AND TRUTH I WILL BEAR UNTO YOU (part of the Oath of Homage from the coronation service). In 1960, in line with the ambitions of Sir Jack, the Royal Mint travelled to New York City where it set up an exhibition at the British Trade Exposition. The decision was made to issue a special, new crown-this one featuring Gillick's much-admired portrait on the obverse, combined with the reverse design of the 1953 crown. Medals were made on-site for sale at the exhibition, but the special crowns were struck in London at the Royal Mint. They differed from ordinary coins of the period by having been struck from polished dies, lending a superior appearance much like a proof. In addition to those, a tiny number (believed to be 20 or fewer) were created with especially deep strikes, in proof state-one of the finest of which is offered here.
Estimate: 4000 - 5000 GBP