George III gold Sovereign 1819 VF30 NGC, KM674, S-3785, Marsh-3 (R5). An extremely rare date, not only the rarest business strike of George III but arguably for the entire modern Sovereign series that starts from 1817. Currently, only two straight-graded examples exist in the NGC population (this coin is the better one), and none at PCGS. The last time the current offering was sold was in May 2015 when it was auctioned for $59,312+buyer's premium in the United Kingdom, then described as the 'second finest known' by the auctioneer. The piece exhibits balanced wear from honest circulation, yet the struck motifs are instantly recognizable and the King's facial features remain fully expressive. The crevices have faint siltiness, and the surfaces are in remarkably good condition for the grade, clearly non-porous and moreover saved from any singularly detracting instances of impact. A quick glance at public auctions during the past eight years reveals two additional examples sold, one deemed 'Not Encapsulated - No Decision' offered in a Sincona auction in 2021 realizing about $24,000+premium, and one from the Spink Stratos sale in 2020, a 'Fine Details' that hammered $38,560+premium; both inspected by NGC and ex-jewelry pieces. In addition, on the 200th anniversary of this remarkable rarity, the Royal Mint offered the aforementioned other NGC straight-graded example by public ballot. This was a F12 piece, thus clearly in lesser state of preservation compared to the present offering, and previously known to exist from a B.A. Seaby bulletin. The winner of the 2019 ballot purchased the coin for £100,000 - corresponding to approximately $127,000 back in the day. The finest specimen hitherto witnessed by the public was sold from the Bentley collection in May 2013, when an uncertified 1819 Sovereign described as 'about extremely fine' sold for approximately $290,000. Judging from the outstanding research conducted for the Bentley Collection sale and additional investigative work by Spink, it can be presumed that 11 individual examples have been photographed and are presently extant, of which at least four, possibly five exhibit various signs of mounting to jewelry. Missing from most institutional coin collections in the UK and apparently even the world-renowned Tyrant Collection, this is an unmissable opportunity to acquire an outstanding and highly elusive numismatic rarity. Ex. St. James's Auction 32 (May 2015, Lot 3) HID09801242017 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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