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Spencer Collection George IV Proof Sovereign Set with Extremely Rare 1825 Plain Edge Sovereign - The Number One Finest Set of All Time

About this set: The story goes that King George IV disliked the portrait on the 1821 that had been designed by Pistrucci (Type I, 1821-1825) as the King appeared too corpulent. He commanded a redesign based on a medallion that was done for him by Sir Francis Chantrey. Pistrucci, apparently, refused to copy another artist's work so William Wyon, who was not 'handicapped' by such 'moral dilemma' was commissioned to redo the King's bust based on the Chantrey medallion. In 1825 William Wyon produced a new obverse based on the Chantrey bust, with a bare-headed profile and a much shorter legend, also restoring the date to the obverse. The reverse was an entirely new design showing a garnished heraldic shield surmounted by a crown designed by French engraver, Johann Baptiste Merlon, who originally had been employed as Pistrucci's assistant. Therefore for the year 1825, both types of Sovereigns exist -- the Pistrucci design with the St. George & the Dragon reverse (but with the obverse bust that the King hated), AND; the Wyon's Chantrey design with the crowned shield reverse (with the obverse bust that the King apparently thought more flattering).