Lot 2245
Great Britain. Halfcrown, 1720 over 1717. S.3642; ESC-590; KM-540.1. George I. Obverse; Draped bust of king. Reverse; Crowned cruciform shields with roses and plumes in four angles. Edge reads ANNO REGNI SEXTO in raised letters on edge. This coin is a well struck and finely detailed uncirculated specimen with virtually all original mint luster still present and a subtle pastel blue and cerise tone. No areas of weakness, no metal flecking, and none of the other problems which plague the silver coins of this period. The catalogue value of around $5300 (£4000) in XF (no higher grade priced) reflects the great rarity of high quality examples. This specimen uncirculated, but perhaps lightly wiped at some stage in its illustrious history. NGC graded Uncirculated Details (Cleaned). Estimate Value $3,500 - 4,000
* George's lack of interest and interference encouraged the arts as much as the political sphere. A brilliant crop of writers continued to flourish during this reign. Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe was published in 1719, and Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels was published in the same year in which this coin was produced - 1720.
George once said 'I hate all boets and bainters' (in his poor English) but he had a love of music, and the Anglo-German genius of Frederick Handel bloomed under his patronage. Handel's Water Music was composed for a royal fete on the Thames in 1717, although his masterpiece The Messiah did not appear until the reign of George II when the king established a tradition by rising for the Hallelujah chorus.
Seven years later George died aged 67, appropriately on a visit to his beloved Hanover, where he was duly buried.
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