William IV proof crown 1831

Editor: Here we have William Wyon's 1831 silver "William IV Proof Crown," currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The crispness of the carving is really striking. What stands out to you about this coin? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the social implications of such a mass-produced, yet intricately designed object. Silver wasn't just pulled from the earth; consider the labour involved in its extraction and refinement. Who mined the silver for this coin, and under what conditions? The materiality is never neutral; it's tied to a whole system of production. Editor: I never considered the mining of the silver itself, just the artistry of the design. That's interesting! Does the style of the portrait have social meaning too? Curator: Absolutely. Classical Realism, as we see here, connects the monarchy to a historical narrative of power. But it’s also important to understand how this image was circulated, who possessed it, and what value – both symbolic and monetary – it held for them. The proof designation marks this out for a more elite status. Editor: So it's not just an image of the King but an embodiment of power relations on different levels. I guess that makes me rethink what artistry means in this case. Curator: Precisely. Wyon was skilled, but he was also embedded in a system, enacting its values and assumptions through his craft. What did the idea of 'craft' itself signify in early 19th century Britain, as it wrestled with industrialization? Editor: It's far more than a pretty silver coin, then! It’s a little capsule of 19th-century Britain, labour, and all. Thank you for shedding light on that! Curator: Indeed. Seeing the piece through its material and process expands our understanding greatly.