Owner Comments:
GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE IV (BARE BUST) GOLD SOVEREIGN 1825
(Marsh 10; S 3801).
OBVERSE: Second bare head of King facing left. Date shown below truncation on field.
REVERSE: The Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom contained in a beautiful ornate shield surmounted by the royal crown.
ENGRAVERS: Obverse: William Wyon. Reverse: J.B.Merlen.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.998 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 4,200,343.
RATING: S (M.Marsh). The 1825 is one of the scarce dates of King George IV sovereigns, although is quite difficult to find an example in UNC condition.
GEORGE IV, SOVEREIGN, 1825, SECOND TYPE, BARE HEAD.
The second standard design for the currency Sovereigns of King George IV from 1825-1830 inclusive had an obverse designed by William Wyon based upon the sculpted model bust by Francis Legatt Chantrey (1781-1841). A marble bust that the King was particularly pleased with, and which was first used as an inspirational model for the coinage on the gold Two Pound piece of 1823 engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen shown here. The Second Type Obverse and Reverse of King George IV The former abbreviated legend used on the first type obverse, now appears across both sides of the second type coins and in a fuller form, on obverse georgius iv dei gratia and continuing on the reverse britanniarum rex fid: def: The lettering no longer has any decorative compartments. The reverse of the Sovereigns of this type, also engraved by Merlen, have a crowned quartered shield of arms, with an escutcheon of the Hanoverian Arms. The straight grained milled edge continues.
KING GEORGE IV
The Reign of King George IV (House of Hanover) : 1820-1830.
Born: 12 August 1762.
Accession: 29 January 1820.
Married: Caroline of Brunswick 8 April 1795, later separated and banned from attending the Coronation.
Coronation: Thursday, 19 July 1821.
Child: one daughter Charlotte who predeceased her Father 6 November 1817.
Died: 26 June 1830, aged 67.
1825 SECOND BARE BUST, GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 62
A nice example of this "bare head" type sovereign with good strike and original luster.
ex Clark Smith Numismatists, San Rafael CA, USA, purchased 21 April 2008.