£995.00
1820 Gold Sovereign of King George III, featuring the laureate head portrait by Benedetto Pistrucci and his celebrated design of St George slaying the dragon on the reverse. Reference: Spink 3785.
1820 George III Gold Sovereign – Laureate Head & St George and the Dragon, S.3785
This sovereign was struck in 1820 during the final year of the reign of George III (1760–1820), and represents the culmination of Britain’s early sovereign issues.
The obverse features a finely detailed laureate bust of George III, facing right, engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci. Around the portrait runs the Latin legend proclaiming his titles as King.
The reverse displays Pistrucci’s timeless and dynamic design of St George mounted on horseback slaying the dragon, an image which has become one of the most enduring motifs in British numismatics and still appears on sovereigns today.
Specifications:
Date: 1820
Monarch: George III (1760–1820)
Denomination: Sovereign
Metal: Gold (.917 fine, 22 carat)
Weight: 7.98 g (approx.)
Diameter: 22 mm (approx.)
Edge: Milled
Mint: Royal Mint, London
Obverse: Laureate bust of George III right, by Benedetto Pistrucci
Reverse: St George slaying the dragon, by Benedetto Pistrucci
Reference: Spink 3785
A highly collectable early sovereign, the 1820 George III issue is especially desirable as it marks the closing chapter of both the King’s long reign and the first phase of modern sovereign coinage.
