George IV 1820 Pattern Sixpence, of highest rarity, pre-dates currency Sixpence

George IV (1820-30), Pattern silver Sixpence, 1820, first laureate head left, B.P. for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci below neck, legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F:D: rev. inverted die axis, first crowned quartered shield of arms, with an escutcheon of the Arms of Hanover at centre, emblems surrounding, ANNO 1820 below, tiny initials J B M in the border teeth near the thistle for engraver J B Merlen, tiny W W P at centre of successive shamrock leaves for Mint Master William Wellesley Pole, edge milled, weight 2.78g (Bull 2420 R6; Davies 250; ESC 1653 R6; S.3813). Attractively toned, one slight rim nick on reverse, otherwise practically as struck, extremely rare, only a very few known to exist.

The Latin legends translates on obverse as "George IV by the Grace of God, King of the Britains, Defender of the Faith," and on reverse as "in the year 1820."

The WWP initials were no doubt embedded in the centres of the shamrock leaves as a tribute to the Master of the Mint William Wellesley Pole, elder brother of the Duke of Wellington who was born at Dangan Castle in County Meath in Ireland, as mark of his family heritage, rather than such initials being placed in the border teeth as those of the engraver Jean Baptiste Merlen.

This is the pre-currency production pattern struck along with a pattern Shilling of a similar format, today of extreme rarity.