George IV sovereign
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
Diameter: 23 mm.
Classification
Coins
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Assunta Sommella Peluso, Ada Peluso, and Romano I. Peluso, in memory of Ignazio Peluso, 2001
Accession Number
2001.217.15
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gold sovereign coin, struck in 1821 and designed by Italian-born engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, captures the regal profile of King George IV of Britain on its obverse. Revered as the Royal Mint's chief engraver, Pistr crafted this piece during George IV's short reign (1820–0), a time of post-Napoleonic recovery and Regency-era splendor. The coin's small diameter of just 23 mm belies its grandeur, serving as both legal tender and a symbol of British imperial power. On the reverse, Pistrucci's iconic depiction of St. George slaying the dragon—mounted on a rearing horse—has endured...
About the Artist
Benedetto Pistrucci · 1783–1855
Italian, 1783–1855, active England