Iconic Interpretations of an English Legend

Celebrating the House of Windsor

In 2017 we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the House of Windsor with a historic set of crown coins from the reign of each of the crowned Windsor monarchs – George V, George VI and Her Majesty The Queen. In the booklet that accompanies this set, we explore the interpretations of the iconic St George and the dragon image which appears on the reverse of each coin and the story of the events that shaped the House of Windsor.

With Britain in the grip of the First World War, George V gave up the historic German name of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, adopting the Windsor name for himself and future royal generations. The proclamation of the new House of Windsor brought about a period of modernisation for the monarchy, reflecting the many social changes in Britain during the last century.

Just as the House of Windsor enjoys great popularity and offers continuity for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, so too does the famous St George and the dragon. Still struck each year by The Royal Mint, the design has featured on the ‘modern’ Sovereign for 200 years, and will no doubt be admired for many more.

These crown coins struck in 1935 (in .500 silver), 1951 (in Cupro-nickel) and 2015 (in .925 Sterling silver) bear portraits of the modern Windsor monarchs, paired with a reverse design depicting St George and the dragon by artists that span the centuries. The set features the famous original coin design by Benedetto Pistrucci, the art deco style of Percy Metcalfe and Christopher Le Brun’s recent dynamic composition.