Jean Baptiste Merlen was a talented engraver who contributed significantly to nineteenth-century British numismatics. Known for his refined approach to heraldry, he created some of the most enduring shield designs to appear on coins produced by The Royal Mint. 

This two-coin silver set brings together the 2026 commemorative coin honouring his reverse for the 1831 William IV crown with an original half-crown. Dated 1834-1837, the half-crown reflects the same stylistic precision and heraldic sensibilities that shaped Merlen’s work. 

Presented side by side, the coins offer collectors a clear view of the engraver’s symbolism and neoclassical refinement.