MS62 | George III (1760-1820), silver Crown, 1818 LVIII, laureate head right, engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci, PISTRUCCI below truncation, date below, legend and outer toothed border surrounding, GEORGIUS III D: G: BRITANNIARUM REX F: D:, rev. St. George and dragon right, PISTRUCCI in exergue, Order of the Garter motto in French surrounding, .HONI . SOIT. QUI. MAL . Y. PENSE., outer toothed border surrounding rim, edge inscribed in raised letters, DECUS ET TUTAMEN* ANNO REGNI LVIII* (Bull 2005; Davies 1; ESC 211; S.3787). Toned, graded by NGC as MS62.

NGC Certification 4716052-003

Perhaps the favourite coin of William Wellesley Pole - the Master of the Mint at this time, and older brother of the Duke of Wellington - the silver Crowns engraved by Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci were released with a glowing sense of pride. Indeed, Pole even ordered that each piece was wrapped in tissue paper before being sent out to the banks for circulation. In recognition of his numismatic art, Pole had made the fiery Italian engraver Pistrucci the Chief Engraver in all but name, as an Italian could not hold such an office in the Royal Mint officially at that time. Pistrucci’s name features prominently in full on both sides of the coin.

The Latin legend translate as on the obverse "George the Third, by the grace of God, King of the Britons, Defender of the Faith" and the French on the reverse, "Evil to him who evil thinks," additionally on the edge "An ornament and a safeguard, in the 58th year of the reign".

Estimate: £1,000 - £1,200