George IV gold Sovereign 1826 MS65 PCGS, KM696, S-3801, Marsh-11. This date is perhaps comparably more attainable out of the 'bare head' business strikes of George IV, however, the immense quality and prestigious pedigree of the current offering are undeniable. The sun-kissed fields are delightfully satiny and practically devoid of any notable instances of impact even for the most conditionally discriminating eye, and lashings of bold luster amplify the delightful visual appeal. A perhaps interesting mention in the Bentley listing notes this coin, then weighed at 8.03gm, to be one of the heaviest currency Sovereigns in the entire collection. A subsequent XRF examination at Heritage revealed that this specimen contains an above 3% reading of silver, copper and rhodium elements each. From contemporary records it can be deducted that during 1820s early Sovereigns were heavily exported and melted down in France, as they were able to profitably extract the silver from the coins and sell the gold back to England. This coin's composition can certainly attest to that proposition, and makes this "top-pop" graded survivor an even more enticing candidate for an elite cabinet of British Sovereigns. Ex. Bentley Collection (Baldwin's Sale 73, May 2012, Lot 19); Randy Weir Numismatics (privately purchased in May 1990) HID09801242017 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

To the auctioneer's website