Item number: A2646

Year: AD 1819

Material: Silver (.925)

Size: 36.3 x 36.3 mm

Weight: 28.2759 g

Manufactured by: Royal Mint

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2014

This is a one-crown silver coin struck in AD 1819 during the reign of King George III of the United Kingdom.

The obverse features a right-facing portrait of King George III (born AD 1738, died AD 1820), adorned with a laurel wreath. Encircling the portrait is the Latin inscription “GEORGIUS III D:G: BRITANNIAR: REX F:D:”, an abbreviation of “Georgius III Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rex Fidei Defensor”, which translates to “George III, by the Grace of God, King of the Britains, Defender of the Faith”. Below the bust appears the name “PISTRUCCI”, indicating the Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, who was appointed to the Royal Mint in AD 1815. His design for the sovereign gold coin was first issued in AD 1817, with a crown bearing the same design following in the subsequent year. His depiction of Saint George slaying the dragon received widespread acclaim, though his decision to sign both sides of the coin drew some criticism. Later, due to conflicts with George IV and the Master of the Mint, Pistrucci’s output diminished. In his later years, he spent three decades completing the Waterloo Medal, which was eventually released in AD 1849 and similarly hailed as a masterpiece. The date “1819” appears along the lower edge of the coin.

The reverse of the coin depicts the legendary tale of Saint George slaying the dragon. The armoured knight is shown astride a rearing horse, wearing a helmet crested with a Roman-style plume, and wielding a short sword. The dragon lies beneath the horse, apparently trampled. According to the legend, a ferocious dragon terrorised a city near a lake, prompting the residents to appease it with a daily offering of a sheep. Once livestock were depleted, young maidens were chosen by lot to be sacrificed. On one occasion, the king’s daughter was selected. Despite the king’s desperate pleas, she too was offered up. As she awaited her fate by the lake, Saint George happened upon the scene and resolved to rescue her. After praying to God, he charged the dragon on horseback and pierced its throat with a spear, subduing it. He then had the princess lead the dragon back to the city by her girdle. Saint George proclaimed that he would slay the dragon if the citizens embraced Christianity. Upon their collective baptism, he beheaded the beast and restored peace to the city. The legend came to symbolise Christian martyrdom and steadfast faith, and Saint George was subsequently venerated as the patron saint of England, Georgia, and other regions.

Encircling the reverse is the motto “HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE”, a phrase in Medieval French meaning “Shame on him who thinks evil of it”. This was adopted as the motto of the Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in AD 1348. The name “PISTRUCCI” again appears below the ground line as the designer’s signature.

The crown, valued at five shillings or one-quarter of a pound sterling, was first minted in AD 1551 under Edward VI. Originally a high-purity silver coin, it embodied royal authority and national identity, often issued to commemorate coronations, military victories, and other state events. From the 17th century, it became a principal large-denomination circulating silver coin. Following the adoption of the gold standard in the 19th century, its circulation declined. In AD 1920, the silver content was reduced to 50 percent, and in AD 1947, it was replaced with a copper-nickel alloy, ceasing to be a precious metal coin. After the decimalisation of British currency in AD 1971, the crown became a commemorative coin, symbolically associated with the monarchy and issued during royal occasions. Though still legal tender today, it is primarily used for collecting and ceremonial gifting, serving as a reflection of Britain’s historical and monetary evolution.

物件編號: A2646

年代: 公元 1819 年

材質: 銀 (925‰)

尺寸: 36.3 x 36.3 mm

重量: 28.2759 g

製造地: 皇家鑄幣廠

來源: 大城郵幣社 2014

這是一枚英國國王喬治三世任內，於公元1819年鑄行的1克朗銀幣。

銀幣正面中央是時任英國國王的喬治三世(生卒公元1738至1820年)的右側肖像，頭戴桂冠。頭像周圍環列拉丁銘文「GEORGIUS III D:G: BRITANNIAR:REX F:D: 」，全稱為「Georgius III Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rex Fidei Defensor」，意即「蒙上帝恩典，大不列顛國王，信仰的捍衛者」。肖像頸下「PISTRUCCI」為設計者義大利雕刻家貝內代托·皮斯特魯奇(Benedetto Pistrucci)之署名，其於公元1815年受聘於皇家鑄幣廠，公元1817年其所設計之索維林金幣首度發行，次年相同設計的克朗發行。聖喬治屠龍的幣圖受後世廣泛好評，但同時署名於錢幣正背面的做法使他遭受一些批評。但後來與喬治四世以及鑄幣廠廠長的衝突使他產量不佳，晚年，皮斯特魯奇花費三十年所設計之滑鐵盧獎章終於於公元1849年問世，同樣被世人評為傑作。下方幣緣則為發行年「1819」。

銀幣背面描繪了聖喬治屠龍的傳說，騎士著甲勒馬，頭盔上有著古羅馬盔纓，手持短劍，惡龍滾落蹄下，似遭踐踏。傳說中，一條巨龍盤踞在一個城市附近的湖泊，威脅當地居民。為了平息巨龍的怒火，居民每天獻上一隻羊作為祭品，當羊隻耗盡後，便開始以少女作為替代，通過抽籤決定誰要被獻祭。一天，國王的女兒被抽中，儘管國王百般哀求人民赦免，但最終也無法例外。當公主被送往湖邊等候犧牲時，聖喬治恰好經過，見狀便決心救人。他在祈禱上帝之後，騎馬持矛迎戰巨龍，最終以長槍刺入其咽喉，制服巨龍，並讓公主用腰帶牽引它回城。聖喬治向民眾表示，只要他們願意接受洗禮信仰基督，便可殺死巨龍，於是全城受洗，聖喬治再將巨龍斬首，城市重獲安寧。這一傳說後來成為基督教殉道精神與勇敢信仰的象徵，聖喬治也被尊奉為英格蘭、喬治亞等地的守護聖人。

背面外圍環列銘文「HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE」，為中古法語，其意為「心懷邪念者蒙羞」，為愛德華三世於公元1348年創嘉德騎士團時所設之座右銘。地面下方「PISTRUCCI」為皮斯特魯奇署名。

英國克朗(crown)幣面值為五先令，即¼英鎊，由愛德華六世於公元1551年始鑄。原為高純度銀幣，體現王權與國家形象，常用於紀念加冕、戰爭勝利等大事。公元17世紀後成為主要大額流通銀幣，19世紀金本位推行後使用漸少。公元1920年銀含量降至50%，公元1947年改為銅鎳材質，不再使用貴金屬。公元1971年英國實施十進制改革後，克朗轉為紀念幣，以其「王冠」之意，常於皇室相關慶典發行。今日雖具法定貨幣地位，實際多用於收藏與禮贈，成為反映英國歷史與貨幣制度變遷的重要象徵。