George V 1934 'Wreath' Crown MS64

George V (1910-36), Half-silver Crown, 1934, Wreath type, bare head left, BM initials on truncation for engraver Bertram Mackennal, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX, rev. Imperial crown, date above, emblematic wreath surrounding of roses, shamrocks and thistles, initials K.G. to right of lowest rose for engraver Kruger Gray, denomination below round, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, .FID. .DEF. .IND. .IMP., edge milled (Bull 3647; ESC 374 R2; S.4036). A superb example with satin-like lustrous fields, graded by NGC as MS64, rare.

NGC Certification 6767915-005

Calendar year mintage 932.

The Latin legend translates as on obverse as "George the Fifth by the Grace of God," continuing on the reverse as "Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India."

The Wreath Crown design by Kruger Gray was much admired and the type design continued in succeeding years at the request of the Bank of England who liked to stock them at Christmas time to present to good clients, hence why the mintages were always quite small for the normal currency pieces. Bertram Mackennal (later knighted) was the Australian engraver responsible for the obverse design. The 1934 Crown was the smallest issue of the wreath crown series, probably because the silver Jubilee designs of 1935 were already being anticipated as a fresh change from the wreath issue.