Jean Baptiste Merlen's 1831 Crown Joins Great Engravers

The 1831 William IV Crown is one of the rarest Crown coins ever struck by The Royal Mint. Featuring an elegant shield reverse, designed by Jean Baptiste Merlen, these coins are known for their beauty and for how difficult they are to acquire. 

It's lucky, then, that the Mint has chosen the 1831 Crown as the next release in their celebrated Great Engravers series, remastering this historic design for a new generation of collectors.

This article covers the history and design of the 1831 Crown and includes full mintage figures for the new 2026 William IV Crown collection.

Browse the range: 2026 William IV Crowns

The 1831 Silver Crown

The 1831 William IV Crown is among the rarest pieces in the silver Crown series.

William IV became King in 1830, following the death of his elder brother, King George IV. William was 64 at the time of his Coronation in 1831, making him the oldest person to assume the throne until Charles III became King in 2022.

William's reign was short, but collectors value his coinage for its elegant designs, created by two of the most significant engravers of the early 19th century: William Wyon and Jean Baptiste Merlen.

Among the noted rarities of William IV's reign is the 1831 Crown. These proof coins were not issued for general circulation but are a key addition to any serious collection of British Crowns. Surviving examples sell for tens of thousands of Pounds when they come to the market, placing them beyond the reach of most collectors.

Portrait Of King William IV

1831 Crowns feature William Wyon's uncrowned coinage portrait of King William IV, along with a legend that reads 'GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F:D:'.

Wyon engraved the right-facing effigy after a bust of the King by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey, the leading portrait artist of the day. The portrait was used across William IV's coinage for the duration of his reign.

Mantled Shield Reverse Design

Shield designs had been a feature of British coinage for centuries, but the motifs became significantly more intricate following the Great Recoinage of 1816.

The 1831 Crown features one of the most celebrated Royal Arms reverses, showing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom with the arms of the House of Hanover in the centre. The shield is surmounted by a royal crown and draped with an ermine mantle, tied at the corners. The luxurious robe cloaks an elaborate collar from which is suspended the Great George - the symbol of the Order of the Garter. The words' ANNO 1831' appear below.

William IV Halfcrowns like this 1836 example display a similar design to the 1831 proof Crown.

Jean Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850)

The artist responsible for the reverse of the 1831 Crown was the French-born engraver Jean Baptiste Merlen, a medallist whose contribution to British numismatics is both substantial and enduring.

Merlen began his career at the Paris Mint before relocating to London to join the Royal Mint as assistant to the celebrated Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci. Although his involvement in portraiture was limited, Merlen established his reputation as a master of reverse design. He specialised in complex heraldic compositions, creating refined and meticulously balanced designs for the coinage of King George IV, William IV and Queen Victoria.

Merlen retired from the Royal Mint in 1844, yet his artistic legacy endured long after his departure. The shield reverse he created for early Victorian Sovereigns remained in use until 1887, while his crowned wreath design for Maundy Money continues to be struck with only minor modifications today.

Though often overshadowed by contemporaries such as Wyon and Pistrucci, Merlen's reputation has grown in recent years. Renewed interest followed the use of his George VI Sovereign reverse for 2025 proof issues, and his inclusion within the The Royal Mint's Great Engravers series represents a significant reassessment of his importance.

The Great Engravers Collection

The Great Engravers collection from the The Royal Mint is a premium series of modern proof coins that pays tribute to some of the most celebrated artists and engravers in British numismatic history.

'We scanned an original 1831 crown, ensuring we could faithfully reproduce the design. Some minor enhancements were made in our digital sculpting package to sharpen aspects before introducing the inscription. This process is a virtual approach that mirrors what we would have done with hand tools (such as gravers and punches) in the past. Our modern, digital tools allow for greater detail.'

- Lee R Jones, Head of Art Direction at The Royal Mint

Each release features a historic design, faithfully remastered using contemporary minting techniques. Past releases have included William Wyon's Una and the Lion, Three Graces, and Gothic Crown; Thomas Simon's Petition Crown; and Benedetto Pistrucci's Saint George and Waterloo Medal. These reissues are available only in 999 silver and 24-carat gold and always in very limited numbers. Classic, instantly recognisable designs have proved among the most popular in the series, with many Great Engravers coins highly sought after on the secondary market years after release.

2026 William IV Crowns in 2oz gold and 2oz silver formats, part of the Great Engravers collection.

The 2026 William IV Crown design is available in the following finishes and mintages.

* Limited Edition Presentation

The Royal Mint has also compiled two different collector's sets, pairing a new Great Engravers coin with additional historic coins featuring reverses by Jean Baptiste Merlen.

• The Merlen Shield Gold Set - Including a 2oz gold proof 2026 William IV Crown, plus shield-back gold Sovereigns of King George IV, William IV and Queen Victoria - just 15 to be released
• The Merlen Shield Silver Set - Pairs a 2026 William IV Crown 2oz silver proof with an 1834 silver Halfcrown, which displays a very similar shield design - limited edition of 100

Will you be adding a William IV Crown coin or a Great Engravers set to your collection?