Crown 1818, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

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: 1818.

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).

The edge lettering reads either "DECUS ET TUTAMEN. ANNO REGNI LVIII." (An ornament and a guard. regnal year 58) or "DECUS ET TUTAMEN. ANNO REGNI LIX." (regnal year 59).

It was customary at the time to date coins with the date starting from the beginning of the monarch's reign.