United Kingdom, William IV, 1831 Proof Double Sovereign Scarce NGC Proof 64+ Ultra Cameo

The Coin

The example is one of the most pristine in existence and is easily among the top ten examples available to collectors. Technically, the coin is superb. The strike is full. The edge unscathed. The cameo is as deep as is ever seen with a lustre woven of velvet. Truly, a gem of British coinage.

The pattern proof series of 1831 contains some of the most popular issues in British coinage. The largest denomination - the double sovereign - is naturally the most sought after of these issues, with the finest examples demanding immense premiums as collectors vie for the best of the best. Although there are likely over 100 examples available, the popularity of the issue has augmented its perceived rarity. Wilson and Rasmussen (2000) awarded the coin a rating of R3 (extremely rare), however Marsh (2021) describes the coin as merely scarce. The truth lies between these two assessments, helped largely by the huge demand for the type consistently over the decades, as those examples that do pop up are quickly cached by eager investors.

The bust was designed on request of the King by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1781-1841). At the time, Chantrey was widely considered the greatest living sculptor. So great was William IV’s admiration of the sculptor that he had knighted him just prior to this coin’s release. Chantrey’s innate gift for capturing the soft reality and characteristics of human form to a cold, hard medium is no more evident than in his bust of William IV for these issues, so masterfully put to steel by the great William Wyon (1795-1851). The delicately elaborate reverse - designed and engraved by Johann Merlen - is the perfect counterpiece to Chantrey’s simplicity of excellence. These two artistic feats rendered in stark cameo make the 1831 double sovereign so pleasing in its balance and style that the coin is an example of the highest achievements of British coinage. Naturally, this elegance and simplicity is easily marred by relatively minor scuffs that have a disproportionate effect on the eye appeal of the coin. On top of this not all examples were struck with equal cameo leaving the higher contrast examples that much more desirable.

William IV (1795-1837)

William IV inherited the throne of the United Kingdom upon his brother George IV’s death in 1830 and ruled for seven years. William was markedly different to his Hanoverian predecessors in public perception: he was disciplined, eschewed decadence and was somewhat popular among his subjects. However, much like those who had come before him William resisted parliamentary reform and fought to keep control with the aristocracy and away from the Commons. This would be his downfall and in 1837 William died politically weakened and unpopular, leaving the crown to his 18-year-old niece, the soon-to-be-Queen Victoria.