William Wyon

1795–1851 · Chief Engraver, Royal Mint (1828–1851)

Patriarch of the Wyon dynasty of British coin engravers. Designed the Young Head portrait of Queen Victoria used on circulating coinage from 1838 to 1887, and the famous "Una and the Lion" pattern five-pound piece of 1839 — widely regarded as the most beautiful British coin ever struck. Wyon's portraits set the standard for a young, regal monarch image that influenced UK coin design for decades.

Notable works

Young Head Victoria portrait On circulating sixpence to crown 1838–1887.
1839 "Una and the Lion" £5 pattern Six-figure auction realisations; arguably the finest British coin ever made.
1843 "Gothic" crown Ornate Gothic-script Victorian portrait.

Catalogue work

Specific catalogue attribution for William Wyon is being added. Their notable works listed above include all the major coins associated with this designer.

Other UK coin designers

Benedetto Pistrucci William Wyon Leonard Charles Wyon Bertram Mackennal Mary Gillick Arnold Machin Raphael Maklouf Ian Rank-Broadley Jody Clark Martin Jennings Christopher Le Brun Christopher Ironside Matthew Dent

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