British and World Coins, Numismatic Books

George VI (1936-1952), England (and Colonies), George VI, the model in low relief for the obv. of the bronze coinage by T.H. Paget, bust left, georgivs vi d: g: br: omn: rex f: d: ind: imp. around, back with inscription ‘Mr H. Paget, Model in lower relief for Impl. Bronze Australia etc, Recd. 7th June ‘37’, 260mm. Pencilled ‘bronze (low relief)’ on circumference, minor fillwork at 5 o’clock, otherwise extremely fine with a very striking portrait of the King, UNIQUE (£1,000-1,500)

Provenance:
T.H. Paget Collection, Sotheby Auction, 15-16 November 1984, lot 757 (part).

Plate 2. Paget’s uncrowned effigy of George VI was described by his fellow sculptor, the late Michael Rizzello, as the classic coinage head of the 20th century. In his biography of Paget, Graham Dyer wrote ‘simple, unaffected and well-balanced, it was as near technically perfect as the Mint had any right to expect. More than any other design it may be said to typify Paget’s work and is almost certainly the design which he himself regarded as his best.’ (NC 1980)