This set has two coins of five ounces of gold each, and is part of the fourth release of gold and silver coins in the collector series entitled the “Great Engravers", issued to highlight some of the Royal Mint’s great artisans who have made significant contributions to British coinage - many regarded as numismatic masterpieces. The first issue featured Una and the Lion, the second The Three Graces, and the third release was of two parts - one featuring the Gothic Crown reverse, and one one featuring the Gothic Crown obverse (with the iconic Gothic portrait of Queen Victoria).
This release also has two parts: one featuring the reverse of the 1663 Petition Crown, and the second coin featuring the portrait of King Charles II by Thomas Simon which was made for its obverse.
The Petition Crown was a pattern coin produced in 1663 by Thomas Simon, a celebrated English medallist and coin designer. The coin was submitted directly by the artist to King Charles II as a personal "petition" against the contemporary coins designed by the Flemish brothers John and Joseph Roettiers, and for the further Royal consideration that only Simon's designs be used for all future specie now that machine-made currency had been adopted universally for the production of British coinage. |