Description

A very collectable Halfcrown of King George the Fourth, dated 1820: the year he came to the throne. The obverse features the laureate head of the king, facing left with the initials ‘B.P.’ identifying the engraver as Benedetto Pistrucci. After 1824 the Halfcrown featured a bare head portrait. The reverse shows an ornately garnished shield of royal arms surmounted by a crown. The arms are those of the United Kingdom with those of Hanover superimposed. The shield - designed by Jean Baptiste Merlen - is surrounded by national flower emblems: a rose below for England, a thistle to the left for Scotland and clover to the right for Ireland. The date appears below: ‘ANNO 1820’, split by the rose. George’s ten year rein began when he finally succeeded his father, George III, after several years of serving as his regent. Spink 3807. Scans courtesy of seller I purchased from. Has light striations to the toning. A pleasing uncirculated example with minor bag mark to neck. Pickup from Mt Roskill