George VI copper-nickel Pattern Crown 1937-Dated (Late 1950-Early 1951) MS63 NGC, KM-Unl., L&S-Unl., ESC-4030 (R7; 2 known), Hill, "An Unrecorded George VI Trial Crown" (Spink Numismatic Circular, October 1998), pg. 358 (R7; this coin). 25.55gm. Struck with the edge of a late Maria Theresa Taler, reading: IUSTITIA ET CLEMENTIA, with floral designs serving as the stops between each word. A somewhat inconspicuous emission that, upon closer inspection stands head-and-shoulders above the remaining Crowns produced during George VI's reign. Comprised of the spare dies that the Royal Mint had at its disposal in the early 1950s, this Pattern was one of several concepts proposed in the months leading up to the Festival of Britain in 1951. While, as recorded by former Royal Mint Museum curator G.P. Dyer, discussions initially began revolving around a Double Florin piece, by November 1950 consensus had landed on the Crown as the most appropriate denomination for the occasion. As a lettered edge was desired for the final product, and no lettered edge Crown had been produced since the reign of George V, the Mint made use of an edge device last employed during World War II to strike a small number of Maria Theresa Talers. Following experiments to see what tonnage of pressure was required to produce this trial--as lighter copper-nickel coinage of this size had not previously been minted--the tonnage figure "120" was etched by hand into the field before the bust. It was reported by Steve Hill that only one other example of this Taler-edge Pattern exists in the Royal Mint Museum, interestingly with a different tonnage figure. Upon close inspection, even if one ignores the unusual edge design, this specimen immediately stands out for its careful production, die polish lining the outer registers and the recesses around the royal arms, while handling remains, as one would expect, absent from the surfaces. In the course of our research, we have been able to locate just a single other instance of a trial from this experimentational period that has come to auction in the last decade (ESC-4033, St. James's Auctions 14-15, September 2010, Lot 562), which brought 10,000 Pounds. Without a doubt a soon-to-be cornerstone in any collection of Post-WWII British coinage, and a Pattern missing from even the most elite cabinets. Published by NGC in the May 2, 2017 issue of "Coinweek."

HID09801242017

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