Five Pound Piece: George IV (obverse); Shield of Arms (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.215)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1826
Only pattern five-pound pieces were struck during the reign of George IV, none being put into circulation. In this reign, specimen proof sets appeared for the first time in 1823, and the pattern five- and two-pound pieces as well as the pattern silver crown were included in the sets.
Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.215: Five Pound Piece: George IV (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse), 1826. Design by Jean Baptiste Merlen (French, 1769–1850). Gold; diameter: 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.). Inscribed: DEI GRATIA * 1826 * GEORGIUS IV. (George IV by the Grace of God); BRITANNIARUM.REX FID: DEF (King of the Britains and Defender of the Faith). Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The shield is quartered with the arms of England (1 & 4), Scotland (2), and Ireland (3) with the crowned arms of the Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg at the center.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold
Design
- Inscriptions
- DEI GRATIA * 1826 * GEORGIUS IV. (George IV by the Grace of God); BRITANNIARUM.REX FID: DEF (King of the Britains and Defender of the Faith)
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1826
- Culture period
- England, George IV, 1820-1830
- Maker recorded
- Jean Baptiste Merlen (French, 1769–1850)
- Museum attribution
- Jean Baptiste Merlen (French, 1769–1850)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.215
- Published references
- Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. E nglish Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. [Catalog. 1968.] p. 72
- Museum classification
- Coins
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider coin type and standard catalogue references against numismatic literature.