Who Was Jean Baptiste Merlen?
Jean Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850) was a distinguished 19th-century engraver and medallist whose refined reverse designs shaped some of Britain's most admired coinage. He began his career at the Paris Mint during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. After Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Merlen sought new opportunities and, in 1820, joined the Royal Mint as assistant to Benedetto Pistrucci.
Merlen remained at the Mint until 1844, specialising in intricate heraldic reverses. His work appeared on the coinage of George IV, William IV and Queen Victoria. Among his most enduring designs are the crowned wreaths used on Maundy Money and the shield-and-wreath motif of early Victorian Sovereigns. However, it is his 1831 Crown reverse that is regarded as a masterpiece of numismatic art.
The 1831 Crown Of William IV
The 1831 Crown features the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, with the arms of Hanover at the centre, surmounted by a crown and encircled by a collar, all draped in an ermine mantle. The reverse bears the date' ANNO 1831', while the obverse shows an uncrowned portrait of King William IV by William Wyon, accompanied by the Latin legend 'GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:'.
Struck only in proof for the year of William IV's coronation, the 1831 Crown was never issued for circulation. Very few pieces were produced, making it one of the great rarities of the silver Crown series. Although a similar design appeared on the more common Halfcrown, the larger format of the 1831 Crown allowed Merlen's heraldic composition to achieve exceptional depth and clarity.
The Great Engravers Collection
In 2026, The Royal Mint revived Merlen's mantled shield for its Great Engravers series, placing it alongside celebrated works such as Pistrucci's Waterloo Medal and Thomas Simon's Petition Crown. For the remastered coin, the historic reverse is paired with the definitive portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings and bears the new inscription 'INSIGNIA GULIELMI IV BRITANNIAE REGIS'.
Issued in a range of gold and silver proof formats, these coins continue the Mint's tradition of reinterpreting Britain's greatest numismatic designs for modern collectors. All 2026 William IV Crowns are available in very limited numbers, and with demand still high for earlier releases in the Great Engravers series, these coins are not to be missed.
