By Geoffrey Hearn and struck by John Pinches in 1954-55.
Set of pattern silver Crowns, all featuring the bust of Edward VIII. Reverses with St George slaying the dragon (the far rare of the two reverses) for the British Crown, the Kiwi bird for New Zealand and an elephant for Ceylon.
All about mint state and attractively toned. Housed in fitted presentation case. The St George reverse, in particular, is a beautiful design and all of these Crowns have tiny mintages and therefore very rare.
All three coins are Ex Hans M. F. Schulman, Summer Auction, 1957, lots 88, 136 and 302 (the case bringing the three together possibly a slightly later addition). The auction catalogue descriptions are as follows:
Lot 88 - Ceylon. Edward VIII Crownsize commemorative 1936, of the shortlived reign of the now Duke of Windsor. Bust. Rev. Elephant. Proof. Very rare. (95 Struck).
Lot 136 - Edward VIII Crownsize commemorative 1936. Bust. Rev. Beautifully styled St. George and dragon. The most beautiful of all the English silver pieces. 100 struck and only 2 or 3 available to be obtained. Proof.
Lot 302 - New Zealand. Edward VIII. King for few months (now Duke of Windsor). Crownsize commemorative 1936. Only 50 struck, by admirers. Bust. Rev. Kiwi bird. Proof. Extr. Rare. (Suggested bid $125.00).
To give a suggested bid of $125.00 in 1957 for the New Zealand Crown alone, shows how taken the former cataloguers were with these beautiful coins.