Two Pound Piece: George IV (obverse); St. George and the Dragon (reverse), 1823. After Benedetto Pistrucci (Italian, 1784-1855), after a design by Francis Legatt Chantrey (British, 1781-1841), Jean Baptiste Merlen (French, 1769–1850). Gold; diameter: cm (1 3/4 in.). During the reign of King George IV, two-pound pieces were struck for circulation in 1823 only. Pattern pieces appeared in 1824, 1825, and 1826. The king was so disgusted with the caricature of a portrait that Pistrucci placed on the first coins of the reign that the artist was ordered to model a new obverse from a bust by the
Two Pound Piece: George IV (obverse); St. George and the Dragon (reverse), 1823. After Benedetto Pistrucci (Italian, 1784-1855), after a design by Francis Legatt Chantrey (British, 1781-1841), Jean Baptiste Merlen (French, 1769–1850). Gold; diameter: cm (1 3/4 in.). During the reign of King George IV, two-pound pieces were struck for circulation in 1823 only. Pattern pieces appeared in 1824, 1825, and 1826. The king was so disgusted with the caricature of a portrait that Pistrucci placed on the first coins of the reign that the artist was ordered to model a new obverse from a bust by the sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey (1781–1841). Pistrucci refused; it was beneath his dignity to copy the work of another artist. The work was therefore carried out by J. B. Merlen, assistant engraver at the Royal Mint.
Size: 3400px × 1474px
Photo credit: © CMA/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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