St. George’s Day

The story behind the dragon slayer on Britain’s coinage

Every April 23rd, England marks St. George’s Day — a celebration of the country’s patron saint and one of the oldest legends tied to English identity. The tale of St. George has been told time and time again through art, literature, and symbolism, becoming deeply woven into the nation’s culture. But who exactly was St. George, and why has his battle with the dragon become one of the most iconic and lasting images found on British coinage.

The origins of St. George’s Day

Despite being England’s best-known saint, St. George wasn’t actually English; most sources agree he was a Roman soldier of Greek origin, martyred around the 4th century for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His story spread across Europe during the Middle Ages, but it was the Crusades that really brought St. George into the heart of English culture. Crusader knights wore the red cross of St. George into battle, a symbol that would later become the flag of England. By 1415, St. George’s Day was officially declared a feast day in England, following Henry V’s famous victory at Agincourt. Over time, the day became a way of celebrating ideals like bravery, loyalty, and honour — qualities St. George came to represent.

What St. George’s Day means today

While St. George’s Day might not come with the same scale of celebration as national days in Scotland, Wales, or Ireland, there’s been a quiet resurgence of interest in recent years. Flags flying, parades, church services, and even re-enactments of the dragon-slaying legend all play their part. But for many, it’s simply a chance to reflect on what it means to be English — and the long-standing stories that helped shape that identity.

Traditionally, St. George’s Day was marked by church bells, feasting, dancing, and a sense of local pride. While some of those customs have faded over time, others have transformed and enjoyed a modern revival, with local festivals and Morris dancing, local community celebrations, or simply flying the red and white flag of St. George proudly.

St George's Day has also become a moment to explore and celebrate England’s rich history and culture more broadly. For coin collectors, in particular, the day is a reminder of how deeply the legend of St. George runs through British history — not just as a symbol of faith or bravery, but as an image that has appeared again and again on coins, medals, and monuments for over two centuries. The celebration and its icons offer a chance to look back at the stories that have persisted through generations and to appreciate the meaning held by the symbol to this day.

St. George and the Dragon

Of all the ways St. George has been remembered, one of the most enduring is the St. George and the Dragon design that collectors can expect to see across numerous pieces of British coinage. The most famous iteration was designed by Benedetto Pistrucci, whose early 19th-century artwork for the sovereign remains among the most iconic designs in British numismatics.

Pistrucci’s St. George's design, sword raised and mounted on horseback with the dragon crushed beneath, has appeared on countless coins ever since, from sovereigns to crowns and modern bullion pieces. However, its influence stretches well beyond coinage; statues of St. George and the Dragon can be found across London and beyond, while the legend itself has been a favourite subject for painters like Raphael and Rubens.

What's more, the power of Pistrucci’s design lies not only in its striking composition but in the deeper symbolism it carries. The image of St. George defeating the dragon has long been seen as a reflection of good triumphing over evil, courage standing firm against adversity, and the victory of hope in dark times. This makes the design particularly relevant during moments of national challenge or remembrance, such as during both World Wars. For collectors, owning a coin bearing this image is about more than artistry or rarity; it’s about holding a piece of that story, a symbol that has represented strength and resilience for over two centuries.

A symbol that endures

For collectors, the St. George and the Dragon design isn’t just about its artistic merit — it’s a direct connection to one of England’s oldest legends.

Part of what makes this design so special is its lasting relevance. It’s a reminder that some stories never lose their power, no matter how many generations pass. Each reissue or reinterpretation of St. George and the Dragon offers collectors a chance to engage with that history, but these coins don’t just mark a moment in time; they bridge the past and present, allowing every collector to own a small piece of England’s enduring strength and historical pride.

Whether struck in gold, silver, or base metal, coins featuring this design carry with them centuries of history and symbolism. It’s a story that continues to inspire, not just on St. George’s Day, but every time we hold one of these pieces in hand.

The story behind the dragon slayer on Britain’s coinage

The origins of St. George’s Day

What St. George’s Day means today

St. George and the Dragon

A symbol that endures

Patty