Watch List notes:

George IV (1820-1830), a set of six uniface patterns in Barton's metal (gold electrolysed copper) of the bare head coinage of 1825, obverses by W. Wyon after F. Chantrey, reverses by J. B. Merlen, comprising: two pounds, obverse (cf. S.3799; Murdoch 415); two pounds, reverse (cf. S.3799; Murdoch 415); sovereign, obverse (cf. S.3801; Murdoch 417; Bentley 390); sovereign, reverse (cf. S.3801; Murdoch 417; Bentley 953); crown, obverse (cf. S.3806; L&S.22; Lingford 519); crown, reverse (cf. S.3806; L&S.23; Lingford 520), some light marks and hairlines, generally nearly extremely fine, in contemporary fitted, velvet-lined leather case, extremely rare and possibly unique as a set (6) *ex Raglan collection Fitzroy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788-1855), was one of the most celebrated soldiers of the early 19th century. Somerset served first as aide-de-camp and then military secretary to Sir Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, through the later stages of the Napoleonic Wars. He distinguished himself at numerous battles culminating with Waterloo in 1815 where he was to lose an arm in the fighting. Later, in 1854, as 1st Baron Raglan, he was given command of British forces sent to the Crimea where he died after a failed assault on Sevastopol, following initial victories at Alma and Inkerman and the debacle at Balaclava. In 1814 Somerset married Emily Harriet Wellesley-Pole, Wellington's favourite niece and daughter of William Wellesley-Pole, Master of the Mint, 1814-23. Wellesley-Pole was to help initiate and execute the great reform of the coinage from 1816 onwards. Under his leadership unprecedented improvements were made in the efficiency of the Mint and the quality of the coinage. Along with talented engravers such as Benedetto Pistrucci and William Wyon, engineers like John Barton were employed to improve the machinery of the Mint. Barton's mastery of the latest technologies of the day would lead to the production of the rare and beautiful uniface patterns of 1825 in the metal named after him.

Estimate: £8000-10,000