Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

George III (1760-1820), New coinage, Pattern Sixpence, 1816, by T. Wyon after a cameo by B. Pistrucci, in silver, laureate bust right, rev. crowned arms in Garter, edge grained, 2.97g/12h (Davies 110P; ESC 2226 [1651]; cf. DNW 89, 1747). Officially bisected and fitted in a silver collar, extremely fine, attractively toned and possibly UNIQUE £1,200-1,500

Provenance: SNC December 1970 (13945) [purchased in November 1970, before the Circular was officially issued].

A handwritten note by Benedetto Pistrucci accompanying a similar gold proof in the Murdoch sale pf 1904 is perhaps worth quoting in part and states ‘the workmen at the Mint were unable to strike this piece on account of its too high relief and would not give themselves the necessary trouble in order to please Mr Wyon, who could not bear with good grace that a work of his, retouched by me, should be issued’