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2026 William IV 1831 Crown Two Ounce Silver Proof Great Engravers Coin

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UK26WC2S 2026 William IV 1831 Crown Two Ounce Silver Proof Great Engravers Coin Reverse

UK26WC2S 2026 William IV 1831 Crown Two Ounce Silver Proof Great Engravers Coin Obverse

Buy a 2026 William IV Crown 2oz Silver Proof

from

£420.00

2oz silver proof William IV Crown from a limited edition presentation of just 3,000. The newest release in The Royal Mint's celebrated Great Engravers series brings Jean Baptiste Merlen's rare 1831 Crown reverse back to life in 999 fine silver. The French-born engraver is best known for his reverse designs, which graced British gold and silver coins in the early 19th century and are still used on today's Maundy Money. This two-ounce coin captures every intricate detail of his 1831 mantled shield design, uniting historic artistry with cutting-edge minting technology and an exceptional proof finish. Revered for its beauty and rarity, the original 1831 Crown holds an esteemed place in British numismatics, and this modern, remastered edition honours that legacy. This Great Engravers coin is a worthy entry to a landmark collection.

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Description Specification Summary William IV Crowns

1831 William IV Crown

The 1831 King William IV Crown is sought after by collectors of British coins for its rarity and the beautiful reverse design by engraver Jean Baptiste Merlen, now remastered as part of the Great Engravers collection.

Mantled Shield Reverse

Merlen's reverse for the 1831 Crown shows a shield bearing the Royal Arms, cloaked in an ermine mantle. The shield is accompanied on this 2026 coin with an inscription that reads 'INSIGNIA GULIELMI IV BRITANNIAE REGIS'.

King Charles III Portrait

On the obverse is sculptor Martin Jennings' first definitive coinage portrait of King Charles III, uncrowned and facing left. The abbreviated Latin inscription reads 'CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 5 POUNDS · 2026 ·'.

Two Ounce 999 Silver Coin

This Five Pound coin is struck in 62.86 grams of solid 999 fine silver and is offered with a premium proof finish, achieved with multiple strikes of hand-prepared dies for an appealing, high-contrast, high-shine appearance.

Limited Edition Collectable

This collector's coin is from a limited edition presentation of 3,000 authorised for release worldwide. Your William IV Crown will be supplied in a presentation case from The Royal Mint, complete with a numbered certificate of authenticity.

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.