Though it was a different time, some of the coin designs created centuries ago hold their own as works of art. Have you ever wondered how those classic designs would change if they’d been designed by one of today’s esteemed master engravers? This Modern Masters answers that question. Struck by the prestigious Commonwealth Mint and issued under the authority of Ascension Island, this trilogy focuses on three “Modern Masters” renditions of the iconic St. George & the Dragon from the Benedetto Pistrucci’s Gold Sovereign design—and it’s only available here!
The Saint George & the Dragon theme has appeared on currency issued by nearly every British monarch since George III, along with other countries all across Europe. The example of excellence most often cited by numismatists is the Pistrucci design—which was somewhat revolutionary for its time, with the customary coat of arms replaced by a scantily garbed soldier, mounted on a horse rearing over a dying dragon, slain with a spear broken in the struggle. First struck in 1817, this timeless design is still considered to be one of the world’s most widely recognized and respected coin designs—and one that has only changed a handful of times in over two centuries.
This release in the new trilogy is the work of South African designer Natanya Van Niekerk, the director at the Cape Mint in Johannesburg. Famous for her Natura designs issued on coins by the South African Mint, Natanya has won 20 coin design awards, including three Coin of the Year (COTY) awards and the COTY Lifetime Achievement Award. After 30 years of leaving her distinctive artistic mark on numismatics, the mere mention of her name is guaranteed to grab the attention of coin collectors everywhere.
Natanya’s design here shows Saint George as a young tribal warrior mounted on a horse battling a horrifying two-headed dragon. The horse is rearing with its front hooves striking the dragon’s chest while the youthful saint holds a spear aloft ready to plunge it into the heart of the evil beast. An intricate pattern border encircles the design, but in the creative hands of Natanya Van Niekerk, portions of St. George and the dragon explode beyond the border. The detail is so exquisite that you can see every scale on the dragon’s lizard-like body. Its feet look like gnarled claws and its enormous wings form a ring around St. George. It’s one of the most exciting depictions of good versus evil ever seen!
St. George has been revered as England’s principal saint since the Middle Ages. The origins of the dragon legend are varied, but in a nutshell, St. George tamed and slayed a dragon that demanded human sacrifices. Generally, St. George, born with the sign of the dragon on his chest, is believed to have been a member of the Roman Garrison in the town of Sylene, located in Libya. The town was terrorized by a dragon that demanded the daily sacrifice of a virgin. When it came time for King’s daughter, Sabra, to be sacrificed, St. George volunteered to tackle the beast and succeeded in wounding it, then bringing it back to the town where the residents could exact their vengeance.
Proofs like these are struck to a much higher standard of beauty, quality, and craftsmanship than circulated and uncirculated coins. Proof planchets (blanks) are specially treated, hand-polished, and cleaned to ensure high-quality strikes, then fed into presses fitted with specially polished dies, and struck at least twice, unlike regular coins which are struck only once. The extra strikes give proofs a glamorous shine and make intricate, razor-sharp details of the design pop against polished, mirror-like fields. While regular coins are struck on high-speed presses by the thousands, proofs are individually struck by highly skilled artisans focused on creating masterpieces. Collectors love proofs because they’re the best quality.
These Ascension Island legal-tender Modern Masters Coins are available struck in five ounces and one ounce of high-purity 99.99% pure gold (Ascension Island legal-tender £500 and £100 legal tender respectively), and five ounces and two ounces of 99.9% fine silver (Ascension Island legal-tender£25 and £10 legal tender respectively). There are also set options available.
Collectors only want the best of the best for their collections, and that’s what you’ve got here. You can secure these Modern Masters Proofs certified by NGC as flawless Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) condition. Coins are graded on a 70-point scale, with a top 70 grade representing perfection, even under magnification. The Ultra Cameo (UC) designation means these coins possess an intense frosted finish on both sides of the coin, with highly polished fields that contrast beautifully with the raised elements.
In addition to being flawless and Ultra Cameo, your coins will arrive NGC-certified with a First Day of Issue pedigree—which means these coins have been received for grading on or before the first day of release from the mint. First Day of Issue pedigrees are sought-after because there are so few of them compared to the overall population.
Each of these coins comes encapsulated with an exclusive gold foil label featuring the Modern Masters logo that is something of a work of art itself. And that’s before the desirability goes off the charts with the addition of a hand-signed signature by the coin’s designer Natanya Van Niekerk!
Authorized worldwide mintages for each of these Gold and Silver Modern Masters Coins are very limited. Only 19 five-ounce gold, only 199 one-ounce gold, only 499 five ounce silver, and only 999 two-ounce silver coins were authorized. Reducing the populations further, the Proofs here are perfect, Ultra Cameo, with a First Day of Issue pedigree and an exclusive hand-signed label.
This coin, and the others in the three-coin trilogy were made possible thanks to Great Britain’s prestigious Commonwealth Mint—which sought out today’s modern coin masters to re-imagine the iconic 1817 design found on the Gold Sovereign! The designers tasked with this massive undertaking are three of the greatest living legends currently working in the numismatic world: Head of Design at Great Britain’s Commonwealth Mint, Jody Clark, South Africa’s Natanya Van Niekerk, and America’s John Mercanti, the 12th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, and the man who has produced more coin and medal designs than any employee in U.S. Mint history. Clark designed the first release and collectors have already made it a smash hit. If you purchased one of those coins, securing the Natanya Van Niekerk version is a no-brainer. Plus, by acquiring these coins now, you’ll be first in line for the third and final release due later this year, designed by John Mercanti!