Great Britain: William IV Proof Halfcrown 1831,...

Description

William IV Proof Halfcrown 1831, S3834A, PR65 NGC, block "WW" signature (of William Wyon), plain edge, very rare, Gem Proof with rich blue, mauve and amber-gold iridescence atop reflective surfaces, sparkling mirror fields, and a premium portrait -- undisturbed by handling or any kind of flaw in the mint frost. This is an elegantly designed coin, made for the proof sets of the coronation of Victoria's uncle, "the sailor king" as he was known to his subjects, for he spent years at sea and is famed for having modernized the Royal Navy. He lived during a fairly peaceful era, following years of European military engagements by his predecessors, and he passed away peacefully some decades before the nation engaged in what were later known as Victoria's Little Wars -- as the Empire expanded through the subcontinent, Asia, the Pacific, and in fact anywhere the Royal Navy went, so superior were her arms and sailors. This coin was born in a time of transition; the coming might and forceful aggression around the world are not even hinted at on this most "civilized" of coins, bearing a simple portrait, mated to an elegantly caped or veiled royal crest on the opposite side. The word "majestic" comes to mind when viewing it. Almost never found in this superlative state of preservation.
From the Exeter College Collection

Metal: Silver
Diameter: 32.30mm
Weight: 14.138g
ASW: 0.4204oz

More information about Great Britain Coins. See also: Great Britain World Coin Nationality.

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