Owner Comments:
GT. BRITAIN, WILLIAM IV, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1834
(Marsh 410, S-3830).
OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing right, engraved by William Wyon (1795-1851).
REVERSE: A garnished shield modeled and engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850).
DIAMETER: 17.9 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994g
EDGE: Milled.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MINTAGE: 133.899.
RATING: R2 (M.Marsh).
William's first currency half sovereign was not issued until 1834, and had a diameter of only 17.9 mm; this was considerably smaller than any other half-sovereign previously struck during the modern era (19.4 mm), but it was though the same weight and fineness as previous issues (3.994 g and 22 carats).
1834 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 64
NGC 3743677-005
A conditionally rare example.
Superb Choice Brilliant Uncirculated, slightly prooflike with gleaming luster, sharp strike and superb color.
ex Heritage Auction # 3030, Lot 24179, 6 January 2014.
NGC: Pop 1 with one grading higher (MS65).
EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/1834
Feb. 18 1834 : 1st US labor newspaper, "The Man", published, NYC.
Mar. 18 1834 : 1st railroad tunnel in US completed, in Pennsylvania (275 m long).
Apr. 3 1834 : The generals in the Greek War of Independence stand trial for treason.
May 26 1834 : Portuguese Civil war ends, Dom Miguel capitulates.
June 14, 1834 : Sandpaper patented by Isaac Fischer Jr, Springfield, Vermont.
June 21, 1834 : Historic invention; American inventor and businessman Cyrus McCormick patents the reaping machine.
July 5 1834 : Provisional government forms in Oregon Country.
August 1 1834 : Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into effect, abolishes slavery throughout the British Empire.
Slavery Abolition Act, (1833), in British history, act of Parliament that abolished slavery in most British colonies, freeing more than 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and South Africa as well as a small number in Canada. It received Royal Assent on August 28, 1833, and took effect on August 1, 1834.
Oct 16 1834 : Much of the ancient structures of the Palace of Westminster (parliament) in London is burnt down.
Nov 14 1834 : Mathematical Physicist and Engineer William Thomson enters Glasgow University at 10 yrs 4 months.
Dec 3 1834 : First US dental society organized (NY).