The Royal Mint's Great Engravers series - Benedetto Pistrucci's St George and the Dragon

The first coin of the celebrated Benedetto Pistrucci within the Great Engravers series, making use of the St. George and the Dragon design based upon his 1818 Crown, which would go on to become one of the Royal Mint’s most enduring motifs.

After training as a cameo and gem carver in Rome, Pistrucci moved to Britain to continue his work as an engraver. Lady Lavinia Spencer introduced him to a model of Nathaniel Marchant’s Saint George and the Dragon and commissioned him to reproduce it in a Grecian style for her husband, which became the basis for his first Sovereign reverse.

As part of the Great Recoinage of 1816 the finalised design was first used on the 1817 Sovereign along with his portraits of King George III, and was so celebrated that it has been used by nearly every monarch since.

Now with a combination of traditional and modern minting techniques the design has been faithfully re-created, such as with the raised edge lettering found on the 1818 Crown.

They will be available from Sovereign Rarities in 2oz Matt Proof 999.9 Gold and 2oz Brilliant Proof 999.0 Silver.