George III (1760-1820), Pattern Crown, 1817, in gold, by W. Wyon, frosted laureate draped bust right, rev. frosted crowned scroll garnished shield, incorrupta fides veritasque, frosted lettering both sides, edge plain, 48.69g/12h (WR 208; L & S 160; ESC 230; Selig 1183). Brilliant and practically as struck, extremely rare, only seven examples recorded (£50,000-60,000)

Provenance:
‘Grant’ Collection, Spink Auction 107, 22 November 1994, lot 420 [previously purchased in Europe ‘some years ago’].

Illustrated on the front cover. William Wyon (1795-1851) learned the art of engraving from his father, Peter Wyon, in Birmingham. His uncle, Thomas Wyon Sr, invited him to London in 1812 and persuaded him to enter an engraving competition promoted by the Society of Arts. His resultant ‘Head of Ceres’ not only won the Society’s gold medal but was adopted for the striking of the Society’s gold medal for Agriculture. William Wyon followed this success by winning another of the Society’s gold medals, this time for his design for a naval medal. In 1815 he cut the Great Seals for Scotland and Ireland. On the death of the chief engraver, Thomas Wyon Jr, in 1817, William Wyon was appointed second engraver. The legendary ‘Incorrupta’ and ‘Three Graces’ pattern crowns, arguably his most celebrated productions, were quick to follow. The reverse design of the ‘Incorrupta’ is thought to have been influenced by that of the Cromwell crown by Thomas Simon.

The Wyon family produced a number of accomplished artists and engravers and was the last of three such notable families with influence in the design of British coins and medals, the others being the Roettiers and the Hameranis