1 Crown - George III Pattern

William Wyon was only 22 years old when he engraved this coin, having come to London from Birmingham in 1812 to compete for a prize offered by the Society of Arts to engrave a head of Ceres for a gold agriculture medal, and in 1813 Wyon won the prize. He returned to Birmingham where he continued to hone his skills, and in 1815 again visited London, again at the urging of his uncle, Thomas Wyon, to work on the Great Seals for Scotland and Ireland.

The following year, Royal Mint engravers Pingo and Marchant retired, and Thomas Wyon became the new chief engraver. He died just a year later. Suddenly the young William Wyon found himself considered for the important post, but it was given to Benedetto Pistrucci, favored by the Master of the Mint, Lord Maryborough.