Written by Greta Gazzaniga
A Majestic Event
The coronation of George IV was an unprecedented event and one of the most sumptuous remembered by his contemporaries. For the occasion, the new sovereign had the State spend the staggering sum of over £ 200,000, whereas barely £ 10,000 had been spent for the ceremony of George III. Furthermore, he commissioned the jewelers Rundell & Bridge to create a new coronation crown to replace the traditional St. Edward’s Crown.
An Innovative Medal
The commemorative medal of the event was also marked by the innovations of the time. This medal was produced in the three primary metals — gold, silver, and bronze — and our upcoming Auction 12, to be held on May 23 and 24, 2026, features the most precious issue: the one in gold.
The genius of Benedetto Pistrucci
The task of engraving the dies was entrusted to Benedetto Pistrucci, an Italian medalist who worked for the British Mint from 1816 until the 1840s. The Mint wanted Pistrucci to use a portrait of the King by the court painter Thomas Lawrence for the obverse. However, the artist refused to copy someone else’s work. Instead, he created a portrait from life of the sovereign, depicted with a laureate profile and hair combed forward—as was the fashion of the time, but also as a clear nod to the portraits of Roman emperors.
The coronation scene appears on the reverse: in the center, the sovereign is seated not on the traditional St. Edward’s Chair, but on a different throne, while being crowned by a winged Victory. Approaching him to pay homage to the new King are three figures: the personifications of England, Scotland, and Ireland. They are represented as Minerva but with different helmets, which bear their respective symbols—the rose, the thistle, and the shamrock.
This choice was not only an extremely innovative idea for the period but also represented a message of renewal from the British Mint, transitioning from simple heraldic representation to an allegorical and dynamic image. This innovation influenced not only medals but also the coinage of George IV, which adopted the portrait designed for the medal. He was, however, the last British monarch to be depicted laureate on his coins.
Auction 12, Lot 1223, UNITED KINGDOM George IV (1820-1830) Medal 1821 Coronation of George IV held on July 19 1821 – Opus: Benedetto Pistrucci
The curious episode of the royal approval
One final detail concerns an episode that occurred when the proofs of the obverse and reverse were submitted to the sovereign for approval. According to accounts from Pistrucci and other Mint members, George IV was enthusiastic about his own portrait. However, he did not take kindly to the idea of being placed on the same level as the allegories of the three kingdoms. When the Master of the Mint relayed this criticism to Pistrucci, the artist realized he did not have enough time to engrave a new die. He replied, in fact, that the only solution was to “elevate the sovereign“.
Pistrucci then created a step on the die, raising the figure of the King so that he appeared elevated above the others. This episode has perhaps been linked to an attempt to imitate Roman coinage. Indeed, on a sestertius of Vitellius, one can observe the Emperor seated on a throne placed upon a pedestal, while three figures of citizens approach him.
The coronation medal of George IV represents much more than a simple official celebration. It is the meeting point of art, politics, and propaganda, where every iconographic detail contributes to defining the image of power.
The medal for the coronation of George IV: the star of Auction 12
The extraordinary ability of Benedetto Pistrucci emerges not only in his engraving quality but also in his ability to interpret — and at times resolve — the demands of a sovereign deeply attentive to his own image. The result is an innovative work, capable of profoundly influencing subsequent coinage while simultaneously engaging with the great classical tradition.
For this reason, the gold specimen that will headline the medals section of our Auction 12, scheduled for May 23 and 24, is more than just a lot of exceptional rarity; it is a true masterpiece of European medallic art. An object destined to stand out, certain to capture the attention of major international collectors — and, in all likelihood, one of the most anticipated moments of the entire sale.
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