Owner Comments:
GT.BRITAIN, GEORGE VI GOLD PROOF SOVEREIGN 1937
(S 4076).
OBVERSE: By Thomas Humphrey Paget, bare head left, hp in relief below, georgivs vi d: g: britt: omn: rex f : d : ind : imp :, finely toothed border within twin linear concentric circles and raised rim both sides
REVERSE: By Benedetto Pistrucci, St George slaying dragon with sword, four strand streamer from helmet, no mane hair over rein hand, horse with long tail, ending in three strands, with one spur higher up at curve, broken lance on ground-line to left, date in exergue, tiny B.P. to upper right.
DIAMETER: 22.05 mm.
WEIGHT: 7.9987 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
EDGE: Plain.
MINTAGE: 5,001
GEORGE VI, 1937 GOLD PROOF SOVEREIGN
It is known that 5,501 gold Sovereigns were issued for the Coronation year. King George VI died 6 February 1952 whilst his daughter Princess Elizabeth was away in Kenya. Thomas Humphrey Paget (September 1893-May 1974) was the designer of the coinage and postage stamps of not only King George VI but also for his elder brother King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in December 1936. Paget had prepared designs of Edward looking to the left like his Father King G eorge V, therefore breaking with the tradition in place since the reign of Charles II, of succeeding monarchs facing in the opposite direction to their predecessor. He did not see why he should not face the same way as his Father, and seemed keen to break old-fashioned tradition when he could. His eventual abdication was due to the love he had for the American divorcee Wallis Simpson, a story well known to many. Consequently his coinage is of the highest rarity, it only existing at either pattern or proof stage of the process. The only real currency coins are the twelve sided brass Threepence coins which were sent out to vending machine manufacturers to adapt their machinery to, and were subsequently never returned. There are only two Proof Edward VIII gold Sovereigns in private hands, one as part of a larger proof set now in Hollywood, USA. The other single one sold at a Tokyo, Japan auction in November 2008 for the equivalent at the time of £220,000 including buyers premium. King George VI, was happy to follow the tradition of facing the opposite way to his predecessor on the coinage, and as Edward should have faced right he decided he would face left on his coinage. Gold coinage was no longer required for currency as Great Britain was no longer on the Gold Standard and so gold Five Pound, Two Pound, Sovereign and Half-Sovereign were only produced for the one occasion, the Coronation of 1937. Opportunity was also taken to recut a design after Pistrucci of the St George reverse, supposedly using the original matrix that was used for the gold Pattern Five Pounds of George III from dating to 1820, the main difference being that he wwp initials under the lance are now absent.
GEORGE VI
The Reign of King George VI (House of Windsor) : 1936-1952
Born: 14 December 1895.
Accession: 11 December 1936.
Married: Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 26 April 1923.
Coronation: Wednesday, 12 May 1937.
Children: two daughters.
Died: 6 February 1952, aged 56.
1937 GOLD SOVEREIGN PF 64 CAMEO
Bright, choice proof with frosty CAMEO devices contrasting mirrored fields. Gorgious eye appeal.
One year coin from the Coronation Proof Set .