The 1821 George IV Crown – E.P. Reverse Variety is one of the most sought‑after die varieties of the Regency crown series. Struck in the King’s coronation year, it pairs the bold first laureate portrait of George IV with Benedetto Pistrucci’s dynamic St George and the Dragon reverse — but with a crucial distinction:

The reverse bears the initials “E·P” in the exergue, identifying the dies prepared by Edgar Pistrucci, Benedetto’s brother, who assisted in hub and die work at the Royal Mint. This makes the E.P. crown significantly scarcer than the standard WWP exergue type associated with William Wellesley Pole, Master of the Mint. Collectors prize the E.P. variety for its rarity, its direct connection to the Pistrucci family, and its place within the complex die‑engraving history of the early 1820s.

The obverse features the powerful laureate bust of George IV, engraved with classical influence and exceptional detail when well‑struck. The reverse shows Pistrucci’s celebrated St George and the Dragon — a design that has become a cornerstone of British numismatics.

• Specifications

  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Year: 1821
  • Denomination: Crown (Five Shillings)
  • Monarch: George IV (First Laureate Portrait)
  • Mint: Royal Mint, Tower Hill, London
  • Metal: Sterling Silver (.925)
  • Weight: 28.28g
  • Diameter: 37.6–38mm
  • Edge: DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI SECUNDO
  • Reverse: St George and the Dragon (Benedetto Pistrucci), E.P. initials in exergue
  • Variety: Scarce E.P. reverse die
  • Mintage: Approx. 438,000 (total issue; E.P. variety much scarcer)
  • Catalogue References: Spink 3805 (variety); ESC 246; KM 680.1

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