Benedetto Pistrucci’s numismatic icon, ‘St George & the Dragon’ is brought to stunning life for the Royal Mint’s sixth ‘Great Engravers’

The Royal Mint continues its Great Engravers programme with what must be one of the most recognisable designs in numismatic history. St George and the Dragon has been a staple of British coinage, including the period when the British Empire was at its height, mainly through its association with the gold sovereign bullion coin.

A beautiful design, it’s now received a full, crisp restrike and mild update as part of this programme, and we can only describe the end result as a complete success. The restruck border is particularly attractive, and the border inscription (DECUS ET TUTAMEN * ANNO REGNI II) looks awesome. This is a hugely familiar piece of art, so the chances are you’ve seen it a hundred times before, but we’ve never seen it look so perfect as it does here.

There’s the usual range of sizes, which remains a huge disappointment. A two-ounce silver variant at £275.00 is where the range starts, so nothing particularly affordable, especially from a national mint. The gold range is terrible, starting at a £5.5k two-ounce coin, with the next cheapest, a one-kilo, dropping at a staggering £85k. A solitary five-kilo coin is almost £440k. We’re not quite sure just who this range is for, but it isn’t the average collector.

There are also three sets available, which look interesting. A silver ‘Highlights’ set (100 available) includes the 2oz coin, along with an 1820 George III crown, and an 1821 George IV crown, and sells for £910. A similar gold set (10), replacing the crowns with sovereigns, is £19,595. Finally, a solitary Premium Exclusive Set includes the new 2oz gold, an 1820 George III Double-Sovereign, an 1821 Coronation Medal of George IV, an 1821 George IV Sovereign, and a St George and the Dragon Trial Piece. Budget £150k for that. As I said, a simply sublime coin, but priced out of reach of most. Available now.

PRESS RELEASE

The Great Engravers Collection from The Royal Mint celebrates some of the most iconic coin designs in numismatic history. The collection continues with a homage to the abrasive genius of Benedetto Pistrucci, one of the most mercurial artists to have ever worked on British coinage.

Arriving in England soon after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Pistrucci was quickly commissioned by Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, to provide portrait models of George III for new gold and silver coinage. A skilled gem engraver, Pistrucci soon mastered the art of cutting coinage portrait models directly into steel and produced a series of stunning designs, including the St George and the dragon motif for the Sovereigns of 1817.

When this was subsequently adapted for the 1818 crown, Pistrucci’s unyielding pursuit of numismatic perfection pushed The Royal Mint to breaking point to produce one of the world’s most beautiful coins. Painstakingly remastered using traditional techniques, modern technology breathes new life into Pistrucci’s spectacular St George and the dragon design. Available in a range of limited edition gold and silver Proof editions, this is an opportunity for collectors to own a numismatic masterpiece that is acclaimed by many observers as the artist’s best work.

A skilled gem engraver, Pistrucci created a series of masterpieces, including the iconic St George and the dragon design for the Sovereigns of 1817, which was subsequently adapted for the 1818 crown.

The Royal Mint’s expert craftspeople have brought this historic design into the 21st Century using modern and traditional technologies. Following the digital remastering process, high-precision milling machines were used to cut the coining dies, which were then hand finished before hardening and the frosted elements added using lasers. The raised edge inscription was created using laser technology on the smaller coins, with each edge on larger coins individually cut and hand finished. Inspired by the original Latin edge inscription on the 1818 Crown which relates to the 58th year of George III’s reign, the new collector’s piece now references the reign of His Majesty King Charles III.

The Great Engravers Collection celebrates some of the finest artists and engravers to have worked ton British coinage. Previous launched for the collection have celebrated iconic designs by former Royal Mint Chief Engravers Thomas Simon and William Wyon.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint said, “Our Great Engravers Collection offers remastered original coin designs for collectors across the world to own and admire for years to come. More than 200 years after it was first struck, we are thrilled to be unveiling the remastered 1818 St George and the Dragon crown design, which demonstrates The Royal Mint’s world-renowned craftsmanship”.

Gordon Summers, Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint, “Crafted in 1818 by Benedetto Pistrucci, this masterpiece is renowned as one of the most beautiful coins in history. Through a meticulous blend of traditional engraving techniques and modern minting technology, we’ve faithfully remastered this iconic design, ensuring that it captures the essence of its original beauty. Collectors have the extraordinary opportunity to own a piece of numismatic history that embodies the finest traditions of British craftsmanship and artistry.”

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION COMPOSITION DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE R.R.P.
£10 UKP 312.59 g of 0.999 silver 65.60 mm Proof 100 £1,065.00
£10 UKP 156.30 g of 0.999 silver 65.60 mm Proof 460 £577.50
£5 UKP 62.86 g of 0.999 silver 40.60 mm Proof 3,060 £275.00
£5,000 UKP 5015.00 g of 0.999 gold 175.00 mm Proof 1 £437,130.00
£1,000 UKP 2010.00 g of 0.999 gold 125.00 mm Proof 2 £176,850.00
£500 UKP 1005.00 g of 0.999 gold 100.00 mm Proof 7 £84,380.00
£200 UKP 62.42 g of 0.9999 gold 40.60 mm Proof 221 £5,545.00

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