Who is Benedetto Pistrucci?

Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855) was an Italian-born gem-engraver and medallist who served at the Royal Mint from 1816. He is the designer of the iconic St George and the Dragon reverse used on the modern UK gold sovereign from 1817 onwards. Born in Rome, Pistrucci trained in classical cameo engraving and produced one of the greatest 19th-century cameos (the "Hercules and the Lion") before relocating to London. His Royal Mint appointment was prestigious but contested — foreign-born status barred him from the Chief Engraver role officially — and he was paid a salary of £500 per year to design coinage. The St George design has been used continuously across nearly every UK gold sovereign reign since.

What does the St George and the Dragon design depict?

The reverse shows Saint George of Cappadocia mounted on horseback, sword raised, in the act of slaying a dragon. The composition is taken from a classical relief tradition: George wears Roman-style armour with a flowing cloak; his horse rears over the dragon's body; the dragon coils beneath the hooves with broken spear shaft visible. The 1817 version showed George with a spear; the redesign by Pistrucci in 1820 substituted a sword (which is the version standardised on subsequent sovereigns). The legend "PISTRUCCI" appears below the design in the exergue on the original, occasionally trimmed off on later strikes. The design appeared on every gold sovereign denomination — full sovereign, half sovereign, double sovereign and quintuple sovereign.

Which UK sovereigns carry the Pistrucci St George design?

Almost all of them since 1817, with brief design breaks for shield-back reverses. 1817-1820: original St George with spear (George III). 1821-1825: St George refined (George IV early reign). 1826-1837: shield-back reverse (George IV late reign + William IV) replaced St George. 1838-1874: shield-back continued (Victoria Young Head, parallel St George after 1871). 1871 onwards (continuously to today): St George re-introduced, used on every reign since. The 2022-2023 transition coins carry St George on Charles III sovereigns. The design is now in its third century of continuous use.

What is the difference between Pistrucci's 1817 and 1820 designs?

The 1817 original shows St George with a spear, the lance shaft visible. The 1820 redesign substituted a sword, gave the horse a more dynamic rearing pose, and refined the dragon underneath. Most modern sovereigns trace from the 1820 sword version. There are also subtle reverse differences: 1820 onwards has a smaller dragon with the body coiled beneath the rear hooves; 1817 had a larger dragon with the spear shaft running across the design. The 1817 spear-version sovereigns trade at significant premium over 1820+ sword-versions because they're the genuine first-issue Pistrucci.

How much is a Pistrucci sovereign worth?

Two answers depending on era. Modern (Veiled Head 1893+ to Charles III today): trades at gold-content + 5-20% numismatic premium — common-date examples at £480-650 at current gold spot. Original 1817-1820 first-issue Pistrucci sovereigns: substantially higher numismatic premium, with EF examples £3,000-8,000 and uncirculated specimens £10,000-25,000+. The 1817 spear-version sovereign in mint state has realised over £100,000 at Spink. Pistrucci's original work is among the most desirable elements of British numismatic collecting.

Who is St George and why is he on a UK coin?

St George (Cappadocia, c.AD 280-303) is the patron saint of England, also of Catalonia, Portugal, Georgia, Lithuania and several other nations. The dragon-slaying legend dates from the medieval European period and originally appeared in the Middle Eastern Christian tradition; the saint is associated with chivalric ideals of courage, faith and victory over evil. Edward III made St George the patron of England in 1348 with the founding of the Order of the Garter. The St George cross has appeared on the English flag continuously since the 13th century. Pistrucci chose the design in 1816 specifically to invoke classical valour for Britain's new gold sovereign — symbolic of the nation's post-Napoleonic-Wars victory and emerging imperial confidence.

Are there sovereigns without the St George design?

Yes — quite a few. The shield-back sovereigns (1825-1874) carry the heraldic royal arms on the reverse. The 1989 500th anniversary sovereign reused the original Tudor Henry VII shield design. The Charles III 2023 Coronation sovereign carries a unique Coronation reverse. The Charles III definitive sovereign 2024 onwards reverted to St George by Pistrucci. Various commemorative issues (Diamond Jubilee 2012, Brexit 2020 in collector formats) used unique reverses for one-off issuance. The St George design is the default but not the only sovereign reverse.

How can I tell if my sovereign is the original Pistrucci design?

Three checks. (1) Reverse: the saint mounted, sword raised, dragon below — if your sovereign reverse shows this, you have a Pistrucci-design sovereign. (2) Date check for original spear vs sword: 1817 = spear; 1818-1820 = sword (transition); 1820 onwards = standard sword. (3) "B.P." mark: Pistrucci's initials appear in the exergue of original Royal Mint strikes; later replicas and some early branch-mint pieces lacked the initials. For high-value early sovereigns, professional grading by PCGS or NGC authenticates the design AND assigns a grade in one step.

What was Pistrucci's relationship with the Royal Mint?

Complicated. Pistrucci was hired by Master of the Mint William Wellesley-Pole in 1816 at £500/year — an unusually high salary — specifically to design new gold and silver coinage. His foreign-born status (Italian) meant he could not officially hold the Chief Engraver title, which went to Thomas Wyon Junior in 1817. Pistrucci nonetheless designed most of the substantive new pieces of the Coronation, Recoinage and post-Napoleonic-Wars era. He resigned his Royal Mint engaging in 1849 partly over disputes with Wyon's family (William Wyon, Leonard Charles Wyon — the Royal Mint engraving dynasty). His work continued in Italy until his death in 1855.

Where can I see the original Pistrucci St George?

Three locations. British Museum, London: the Department of Coins and Medals holds Pistrucci's original models and trial strikes; viewing by appointment. Royal Mint Museum, Llantrisant: permanent display includes original Pistrucci dies and presentation pieces. Italian Numismatic Society, Rome: holds Pistrucci's gem-engraving work plus selected medallic pieces from his Mint career. The Royal Collection Trust also holds presentation sovereigns from the 1820s with Pistrucci attribution; some are loaned to museum exhibitions periodically.

How do Pistrucci sovereigns compare to modern bullion sovereigns for investment?

Pistrucci-era sovereigns (1817-1820, then 1821-1825 redesigned) carry numismatic premium that has outperformed gold spot by 100-300% over 30-year holds. Modern sovereigns (Elizabeth II, Charles III) carry minimal numismatic premium and track gold spot. For pure bullion investment: modern is more cost-effective. For numismatic-investment hybrid: early Pistrucci pieces are arguably the strongest single category in British coin collecting, with sustained collector demand and limited supply. UK collectors who hold both achieve a balance of bullion-floor protection and numismatic upside.

Pistrucci's St George Sovereign: 200+ Years of British Gold

Benedetto Pistrucci's St George and the Dragon reverse, first struck on the 1817 sovereign, is one of the most iconic coin designs in the world. It has appeared on virtually every UK gold sovereign for over two centuries — through the Coronation of George IV, Victoria's 64-year reign, the Australian branch mints, the Edwardian and Georgian eras, Elizabeth II's 70 years, and now Charles III. This guide covers Pistrucci's biography, the 1817 spear vs 1820 sword variants, why St George, and what the original Pistrucci sovereigns are worth today.

Last updated: 6 May 2026

In brief. Italian engraver Pistrucci (1783-1855) designed the St George reverse for the 1817 sovereign. Used continuously from 1817 with brief shield-back interruptions. Modern Pistrucci sovereigns: £480-650. Original 1817 spear-version: £3,000-100,000+. 1820 sword redesign onwards: standard premium 5-30%. The design has appeared on more sovereigns than any other reverse in British coinage history.

Featured Pistrucci sovereigns on MyCoinage

½ Sovereign - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait; Proof

1985

up to £7,155

1 Sovereign - Elizabeth II Gold Sovereign Anniversary

1989

up to £1,588

1 Sovereign - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Golden Jubilee

2002

up to £1,395

1 Sovereign - Charles III Bullion

2026

up to £1,300

1 Sovereign - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; Platinum Jubilee

2022

up to £1,128

1 Sovereign - Charles III

2026

up to £1,057

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1817 first sovereign Pistrucci spear George IV sovereign Pistrucci Victoria St George sovereign Edward VII sovereign George V sovereign Elizabeth II sovereign

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Reviewed by Connor Jones, Editor. Every MyCoinage guide is fact-checked against realised auction sales before publication.

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