Crown, St George within Garter, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

Crown, St George within Garter, Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1818 - 1820)
Coin TypeCrown, St George within Garter

The British Crown coin, the successor to the English Crown and the Scottish Dollar, came into being with the Union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland in 1707. As with the English coin, its value was five shillings, or sixty pence - one shilling being twelve pence.

Crown coins issued during the reign of King George III are part of the great recoinage of 1816, and are the first issued for the United Kingdom (earlier, it was Great Britain). Unlike the other silver denominations of the time, they feature designs by Benedetto Pistrucci on both sides - an adaptation of the Saint George and the Dragon reverse from the first sovereign, and a laureate portrait of the king. Following the tradition of the time, the value of the coin is not inscribed on it - people were supposed to recognise it by its size and weight.

At the time the coins were issued, King George III no longer ruled in person but was subject to the regency of his son the Prince of Wales, later King George IV.

The composition of the coins is Sterling Silver (0.925 silver) and the coins have 0.841 oz ASW (ounces of Absolute Silver Weight); the standard weight for them was, in the measuring units of the time, 10/11 of a troy pound (436.3636 grains).

After decimalisation in 1971, the face value of the denomination kept its five shillings equivalent at 25 new pence, later simply 25 pence. Even though they have been withdrawn from circulation, pieces struck prior to 1990 - all the way back to 1818 - continue to be legal tender for that amount (i.e. they have not been formally demonetised).

Obverse
United Kingdom / Crown, St George within Garter - obverse photo

Within a toothed border, the obverse of the coin depicts the laureate head of King George III facing right. His short hair is decorated with a laurel wreath held by a tie with a loop with two ends; his neck is bare. Below the neck truncation, the surname of the designer: PISTRUCCI.

Around, the monarch's legend GEORGIUS III D: G: BRITANNIARUM REX F: D:. Translated from Latin, the legend means "George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of the Britains, Defender of the Faith".

Below, the year of issue: [year].

Obverse Inscription GEORGIUS III D: G: BRITANNIARUM REX F: D: [year]
Reverse
United Kingdom / Crown, St George within Garter - reverse photo

Within a toothed border, the reverse of the coin depicts an illustration of the legend of St George as the slayer of the dragon.

St George is on horseback, advancing to right, wearing a helmet and chlamys (cape, or cloak) fastened in front by a fibula, and holding a sword. His left hand clutches the rein of the horse's bridle, and he does not wear armour, other than on his lower legs and feet, with his toes bare. The saint's horse appears to be half attacking, half shrinking from the dragon, which lies wounded by George's spear and in the throes of death. The point of a spear is broken off in the dragon’s side; the shaft lays on the ground behind the horse.

In exergue, the surname of the designer: PISTRUCCI (Benedetto Pistrucci).

Surrounding the image, a Garter circlet inscribed with the Order of the Garter's motto, HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE · (from old French: Shame on he who thinks evil).

Reverse Inscription HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE ·
EdgePlain, inscribedEdge InscriptionDECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI [regnal year in Roman numerals]
Advertising
Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Advertising
Buy Silver and Gold Bullion Online!
Buy Silver and Gold Bullion Online!
Crown, St George within Garter: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Sub-type ofCrown
From1818
To1820
Face Value5 (x Shilling)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1971
Material0.925 Silver
DesignerBenedetto Pistrucci
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationCoin Alignment (Axis 6)
Size38.6100 mm
Thickness3.0000 mm
Mass28.2759 g
Crown, St George within Garter: Photos
ImageDetails
Crown, St George within Garter: Photo Coin - Crown, George III, Great Britain, 1818 Coin - Crown, George III, Great Britain, 1818
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Source
Crown, St George within Garter: Photo Coin - Crown, George III, Great Britain, 1818 Coin - Crown, George III, Great Britain, 1818
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Source