A scarce plain edge proof 1847 Queen Victoria Gothic Crown with an N over N variation, graded PF 61 by NGC.
Gothic Revival Masterpiece
Among the most beautiful coins ever minted, Gothic Crowns are scarce and stunning. They feature a remarkable crowned portrait of Queen Victoria, garbed in the trappings of an art movement that was all the rage in the 1840s. Known as Medieval Revival or Victorian Gothic, it's proponents - including the engraver of this coin, William Wyon - looked to Britain's past for inspiration.
The reverse of the 1847 Crown also evokes the Middle Ages. It bears a highly-detailed design composed of four crowned shields and a bloom of national flower emblems, encircled by a blackletter-style legend, redolent of medieval manuscripts. Wyon – then Chief Engraver to the Royal Mint – carved the dies for the reverse but the design is the work of Scottish artist, William Dyce.
It's a captivating piece, entirely distinct in style from UK coinage issued before and after.
Highly Sought After
However, it's not just the beauty of the Gothic Crown that has made it famous among collectors.
Only around 8,000 were ever struck and a range of variations contributed to immediate interest from collectors. Extant examples appear in silver and gold, most commonly with raised gothic lettering to the edge with the regnal year 'unidecimo'. A rarer variant, of which this is an example, bears a plain edge.
This coin also shows another variation, wherin the N in 'UNITA' to the reverse is struck over an inverted N.
Today, fans can enjoy remastered versions of this iconic design, issued as part of The Royal Mint's Great Engravers collection in gold as well as the original silver. You can find out more about these new Gothic Crowns on our blog which also dives deeper into the history of the 1847 Gothic Crown.
Graded PF 61 by NGC
The Gothic Crown only circulated in a limited manner so many examples are in excellent condition. This one is no exception.
This example has been graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation as PF 61 (NGC Cert # 6029545-001).
A graded of PF 61 indicates a Proof coin with an average strike and no traces of wear but more marks and/or multiple large abrasions compared to coins with a higher grade (of which there are not many).
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