1821 Gold Sovereign George IV Laureate Head

A scarce 1821 gold Sovereign, featuring King George IV.

Like his father, there were two distinctive heads for George IV coins - the Laurel (Wreath) Head, and the Bare Head. The obverse portrait of this 1821 gold Sovereign features the laurel head of King George, while the reverse features the classic George and the Dragon image, both designed by Benedetto Pistrucci.

Obverse - GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA

Reverse - BRITANNIARUM REX F:D

About George IV:

George was Prince Regent from 1811 until 1820 and his father's death. King George III's mental health declined steadily during the latter years of his reign, but it is believed medical malpractice and mercury poisoning was the cause. George IV took over in 1820 and ruled for 10 years, but he was considered a national liability and a poor king.

Historian John Raymond had this to say of the hapless royal in History Today back in 1962:

"Thrift, uxoriousness and hard work were the cardinal admirations of the mid-nineteenth century and it must be admitted that the Prince Regent excelled in none of them. His extravagance was proverbial, his treatment of his wife an historic scandal; he toiled not, neither did he spin.

He was an unbounded liar, a heartless father, a fashionable corpulence in stays, an unconscionable imbiber of cherry brandy."