George IV gold Proof 5 Pounds 1826 PR63 Ultra Cameo NGC, KM702, S-3797, L&S-27, W&R-213 (R3). Lettered edge. By William Wyon after Chantrey, reverse by Jean-Baptiste Merlen. Mintage: 150. A boldly struck representative of this Proof-only issue which finds itself easily one of the more iconic and sought-after issues of 19th-century British numismatics, notable for its expansive size and sensitively rendered portrait of George IV. Produced as part of the monarch's mid-reign 1826 Proof Set, the portraiture executed by Wyon on the issue seems to add a new degree of prominence to Merlen's already flattering effigy drawn from the style of Sir Francis Chantrey, idealizing his features and seeming to abstract any sense of the King's real-life portly stature. Showcasing all the hallmarks of an advanced state of preservation and superior "Ultra Cameo" superlative, this decidedly meticulous rendering of the King is difficult to surpass. Full reflectivity abounds, lending to the already advanced visual character, creating an unmissable opportunity, and undoubtedly a crown jewel for even the most advanced British coin cabinets.

HID09801242017

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