Ruling from October 1760 to January 1820, George III saw many key moments during his time as king. As well as welcoming in a new century, he also reigned during the Acts of Union 1800, which made him the first King of Great Britain and Ireland as a united realm.

This original crown dates from 1819, the year in which Queen Victoria was born. Queen Victoria’s father, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, was the fourth son of George III and she inherited the throne because her three uncles – George VI, Frederick Duke of York and William IV – had no legitimate children who survived.

Both the obverse and the reverse of this silver crown were designed by legendary engraver Benedetto Pistrucci. The obverse shows a laureate portrait of George III and the iconic St George and the dragon.