With his father, George III's health declining, in 1811 George IV, then the Prince of Wales, was made the prince regent. Initially hoped by both the Prince and Parliament that this would be a temporary measure, in 1812 the regency was made permanent when it became clear George III was not going to recover. George IV is a fascinating character in British royal history, famous for having an extravagant lifestyle and a large ego. The coinage of his reign reveals a vain king who liked to be portrayed as young, handsome and slim, in contrast to the images created by the cartoonists of the king's time who painted him as gluttonous and overweight.

George IV gold Sovereign 1822

Obverse - First laureate head left, B.P. for Benedetto Pistrucci below neck, legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F:D:

Reverse - Die axis slightly off-centre, St George and dragon right, date in exergue, B.P. to upper right of exergue for designer and engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, raised WWP on ground line below lance for Master of the Mint William Wellesley Pole

Has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS63.