In 1818, new crown coins of 5 shillings were minted in the fifty-eighth year of King George III’s reign, the first such coins ever issued since he became King in 1760.

The reverse designs seen on these large silver coins included the classic and iconic numismatic masterpiece of Benedetto Pistrucci’s “St George slaying the Dragon”. His exemplary creation was first included on British gold Sovereigns in 1817 which were issued as part of Great Britain’s revised coinage that fundamentally changed the everyday commerce of Britain the year before with the introduction of the Great Recoinage.