Product Information

Each 9 carat gold ring comprises a 22 carat gold half-sovereign featuring St George and the dragon by the nineteenth-century Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, struck at the Royal Mint and dated 2008. The ring also includes 12 diamonds set into the mount and the Royal Mint Tower mark. The Half-Sovereign Diamond Ring comes in an attractive case accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity attesting to the low issue limit of just 250.

Background & History

Over the course of the last 200 years the classic portrayal of St George and the dragon by Benedetto Pistrucci has become a symbol of continuity and stability on the gold coinage. In the early years of its existence, however, the design underwent a number of revisions and it took to or three years to arrive at the composition with which we are familiar today.

The sovereign was introduced in 1817 and, given its proximity in size to the guinea, there were concerns that a conventional heraldic reverse could lead to confusion. Pistrucci's design of St George and the dragon was chosen as an alternative and represented a marked break from British numismatic tradition.

The popularity of Pistrucci's gold sovereign has led to it becoming the centrepiece of some of the Royal Mint's finest pieces of jewellery.