Collection Online as of February 7, 2023

Two Pound Piece: George IV (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)

1831

Part of a set. See all set records

engraved by

Jean Baptiste Merlen

(French, 1769–1850)

William Wyon

(British, 1795–1851)

England, William IV, 1830-1837

Gold

Diameter: 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.)

The Norweb Collection 1969.216

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

This is the largest gold coin issued during his brief reign.

Description

The two-pound piece in this reign was only struck as a pater in 1831. Again, as in the last reign, a limited number of proof sets were struck, and this coin was included in the sets. Since it never went into circulation it is properly called a pattern.

Inscriptions

Inscription

BRITANNIAR: REX F: D: GULIELMUS IIII D: G:

Inscription Translation

William the Fourth by the Grace of God King of the Britains Defender of the Faith

Inscription Remark

obverse

Inscription

ANNO 1831

Inscription Remark

reverse

Provenance

-1969

Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art

1969-

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Citations

Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. [Catalog. 1968.] p. 73

Exhibition history

English Gold Coins: Ancient to Modern Times. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1963).

Year in Review: 1969. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (January 27-February 22, 1970).