The Coronation Crown: Why the 1937 King George VI Crown is a Numismatic Treasure
In the world of coin collecting, some pieces are prized for their beauty, others for their age, and a select few for the powerful story they tell. The 1937 King George VI Coronation Crown is one of those rare coins that ticks every box, making it a cornerstone piece for any serious collector of British coinage. It’s more than just a piece of silver; it’s a tangible link to a moment of unprecedented royal drama and a symbol of a nation’s continuity.
A Coin Born from Crisis
To understand the significance of this crown, we must look at the year before its creation. 1936 was the “Year of the Three Kings.” King George V died in January, succeeded by his popular son, Edward VIII. Coinage designs were prepared and patterns were struck for the new king. However, Edward VIII’s desire to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson threw the monarchy into a constitutional crisis, culminating in his abdication in December 1936.
His younger brother, Albert, Duke of York, was thrust onto the throne, taking the name King George VI. The nation, and the world, was stunned. With a coronation hastily planned for May 1937, the Royal Mint had an urgent task: to create a new coinage for a king nobody expected. The 1937 Crown was the flagship commemorative coin for this momentous occasion.
Design and Symbolism
The coin itself is a masterpiece of early 20th-century minting artistry.
- The Obverse (Heads): This features a bare-headed effigy of King George VI facing left, designed by the brilliant Thomas Humphrey Paget. This portrait is significant for a subtle but crucial reason. By tradition, each new monarch faces the opposite direction of their predecessor. King George V faced left. Edward VIII, in his pattern coinage, broke with this tradition by insisting on facing left. By also facing left, George VI’s coinage symbolically erased the numismatic reign of his brother and restored the lineage directly from his father.
- The Reverse (Tails): Designed by George Kruger Gray, the reverse features the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, supported by the crowned lion and the chained unicorn. The denomination “CROWN” and the date “1937” are clearly displayed.
The coin was struck in .500 silver, with a diameter of 38.61mm and a weight of 28.28 grams. Its face value was five shillings (5/−), a substantial sum at the time.
The Mintage Figure: The Key to its Rarity
Here is where the 1937 Crown truly distinguishes itself for collectors. While crowns were once the workhorses of British currency, by the 20th century they were largely ceremonial. They were too large and heavy for convenient daily use. As such, their mintages were often driven by collector demand rather than commercial need.
The mintage for the standard, circulation-issue 1937 Crown was just 418,699.
To put that into perspective:
- The previous commemorative crown, the 1935 George V “Rocking Horse” Silver Jubilee Crown, had a mintage of over 714,000.
- The next crown, the 1951 “Festival of Britain” Crown, had a mintage of over 2 million.
- The 1953 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Crown had a massive mintage of nearly 6 million.
This relatively low figure immediately makes the standard 1937 Crown a scarce and desirable coin, especially in high-grade condition.
The Pinnacle of Rarity: The Proof Version
For the discerning collector, the true prize is the proof version of the 1937 Crown. Proof coins are specially struck using highly polished dies, resulting in a flawless, mirror-like background and a frosted, detailed design. They represent the absolute pinnacle of the minting art.
The mintage for the 1937 Proof Crown was a tiny 26,402.
This exceptionally low number places it among the rarest of modern British proof crowns. Finding one today, especially in its original case and free from toning or fingerprints, is a significant challenge and a mark of a truly advanced collection.
Its Significance to the Collecting Community
The 1937 King George VI Crown is not just another coin; it is an essential piece for several reasons:
- Historical Importance: It is the first crown of King George VI, marking his unexpected accession and providing a sense of stability after the abdication crisis.
- Relative Scarcity: Its low mintage, for both the standard and proof issues, guarantees its long-term desirability and value.
- Artistic Merit: The classic, well-executed designs by Paget and Kruger Gray are highly regarded by numismatists.
- Keystone Coin: It is a non-negotiable coin for anyone building a set of British crowns, a George VI type set, or a collection of coronation issues.
So, the next time you browse a coin fair or an auction catalogue and see a 1937 Crown, take a moment to appreciate it. You’re not just looking at a piece of silver; you’re looking at the story of a reluctant king, a nation in flux, and a numismatic treasure forged in a year of unparalleled royal history.