William Wyon was born at Birmingham, Warwickshire into a family of engravers and medallists. He was apprenticed to his father, Peter Wyon the chief engraver of the king's seals, and studied in the schools of the Royal Academy, London, where he gained silver medals in both the antique and the life class. He also obtained a gold medal from the Society of Arts. He was appointed probationary engraver to the mint in 1811, and soon after engraved his medal commemorative of the peace, and his Manchester Pitt medal. In 1815 he was appointed chief engraver to the mint.
Wyon is listed as the engraver of at least 43 different coins struck for circulation in England. He also prepared scores of coin dies for the British Territories, including the West Indies, British India, Ceylon, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Ionian Islands, Ireland, Jersey, Malta, Mauritius, New Brunswick, Penang Straits Settlements and New Granada.
The accurate, clear portraits, the quality of design and the technically perfect engraving of Wyon's work make him the definitive medallist of 19th-century England. His portraits of Queen Victoria were used on all British coinage until 1887 and for all postage stamps until 1902.
William Wyon's eminence was recognized by his election to Associate of the Royal Academy on 7 November 1831 and Royal Academician on 10 February 1838. He was the first medallist to be thus honoured.
According to the custom of the day, Fuller commissioned medallions to be distributed to mourners at his funeral. These handsome bronze and silver medallions were designed by prominent medallist William Wyon.
In his will, Fuller bequeathed Wyon a twenty guinea ring.
Britannia standing holding an olive-branch,
drives four horses
Copper 56 mm (2.25 inches) in diameter
