1847 Gothic Crown

First issued in 1847, the William Wyon Gothic Crown is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful coins ever struck by the Royal Mint - and arguably the single most beautiful British coin of the 19th century. Inspired in part by the Scottish painter William Dyce, who was at the center of the Gothic Revival movement then sweeping British art and architecture, the obverse and reverse designs are works of genius produced by Chief Engraver William Wyon at the very peak of his creative career.

The obverse depicts a young Queen Victoria in full Gothic style, crowned and wearing an ornate court dress, with a fully Gothic Latin legend in elaborate blackletter: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR REG F D - "Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith." The reverse is built around the cruciform shields of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the central Garter star, surrounded by the date in Roman numerals (mdcccxlvii) and the motto TUEATUR UNITA DEUS - "May God guard these united" - again rendered entirely in Gothic blackletter.

The Gothic Crown was issued only as a Proof for collectors, never for circulation. It came in two main edge varieties: SEPTIMO (the more common edge inscription, referring to the seventh year of Victoria's reign) and the much rarer UN DECIMO (eleventh-year edge). This example carries the rarer UN DECIMO edge.

The total combined mintage of the Gothic Crown is approximately 8,000 silver pieces along with a small handful of gold strikings - and most were taken straight from the Bank of England by Victorian collectors at issue, then carefully preserved. NGC PF-62 is a respectable Proof grade for a coin that frequently shows the hairlines and contact marks typical of being passed hand-to-hand by 19th-century cabinet collectors.