A GEORGE III GOVERNMENT SILVER SEAL MATRIX
WILLIAM PITTS, LONDON 1815
Estimate: £600 - £800
Auction: Silver & Objets de Vertu | Wednesday 4th March at 10am
Description
The large simple circular matrix with finely and deeply cut royal armorial with crown above and order of the garter motto around, the whole with outer mott within border od GEORGIUS III. DEI GRATIA. BRITANNIARUM REX. FIDEI DEFENSOR, hallmarked to edge
Dimensions
42mm diameter, 9mm high, 104g
Provenance
Matrix a Collection of British Seals, David Morris, seal 10, pages 38 – 39
Footnote
Note
Although having been on the throne since 1760, it was in 1815 when King George III arms were altered that this seal was made, no doubt replacing an earlier with the no defunct arms. The simple change to the central shield, denting the Kings position in Hanover, was changed from being surmounted by an Electoral Cap to the arched Royal crown. This in affect giving King George III two kingdoms.
This change came about from the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire and its system of electoral princes and the downfall of Napoleon all leading to the 1814 Congress of Vienna. It was at this congress that Hanover was given the dignity of a its Kingdom necessitating this armorial change for George III and subsequent British monarchs who ruled over Hanover.