Iconic St. George & the Dragon Design Re-Imagined by John Mercanti!

Third and Final Release in the Modern Masters Trilogy

If you’ve ever wondered what the world’s greatest coin designs would look like if they’d been created by today’s master engravers, you’re in luck!

Though conceived during radically different times, some of the coin designs created centuries ago hold their own as works of art in today’s numismatic world. Just imagine how those classic designs would change if they’d been designed by one of today’s esteemed master engravers. This Modern Masters series solves that riddle. 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 design from Benedetto Pistrucci’s Gold Sovereign—and they’re only available here!

The Remarkable, 200-Year-Old St. George & the Dragon Design

The St. George & the Dragon theme has appeared on currency issued by nearly every British monarch since George III, along with other countries all across Europe—but the example of excellence most often cited by numismatists is the Pistrucci design. It was considered somewhat revolutionary for its time because it had 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.

What Is the Legend of St. George?

The origins of the St. George and 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 which demanded the daily sacrifice of a virgin. When it came time for the 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.

This Popular Trilogy Is A Smash Hit!

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! The designers tasked with this daunting 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 now, America’s John Mercanti, the retired 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.

If you purchased one or both of the coins featuring designs by Clark and Van Niekerk, securing this John Mercanti release is a no-brainer. Order now before you’re left empty-handed!

Who Is John Mercanti?

John Mercanti served as the U.S. Mint’s Chief Engraver for an astounding 37 years, and in that time his career-defining designs include the beautiful heraldic eagle holding arrows and an olive branch design that graced the reverse of the most popular silver coins on the planet, Silver Eagles, for 35 years; the obverse of the American Platinum Eagle; and commemorative coins for the 1984 Olympics, 1986 Statue of Liberty, 1989 Congress Bicentennial, 1991 Mount Rushmore, and many more. 

After 49 years of leaving his distinctive artistic mark on numismatics, the mere mention of the name “John Mercanti” is guaranteed to grab the attention of coin collectors everywhere.

Mercanti’s The Legend of St. George Is Stunning!

Mercanti’s spectacular reverse design shows a close-up view of St. George as a mounted knight, with mail and sword. In the background, the fierce dragon has its wings spread as it rises above a layer of clouds, a dire omen of the battle to come. Mercanti’s art is unique in that it combines stylized elements—the rolling clouds, the layers of St. George’s hair, and the wings of the dragon itself—with more detailed, realistic elements—St. Georges beard, the scales of the dragon, the mail armor.

On the obverse, you’ll find an effigy of Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II that is slightly different than that which graces most coins issued by Commonwealth Nations. This version of the official Queen Elizabeth II effigy designed by Jody Clark includes her shoulders and the coronation necklace.

Why Proofs Offer Better Quality

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.

Struck in 99.99% Gold and 99.9% Silver

These Modern Masters Coins are available struck in five ounces and one ounce of high-purity 99.99% pure gold (local Ascension Island £500 and £100 legal tender respectively), and five ounces and two ounces of 99.9% fine silver (local Ascension Island £25 and £10 legal tender respectively). You can also secure the 3-Pc Set option consisting of a coin struck in one ounce of 99.99% pure gold, and coins struck in two and five ounces of 99.9% fine silver.

Certified Absolutely Perfect with Special Designations

Collectors seek out the best of the best for their collections, and that’s what you have 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 designation—which means they were submitted to NGC with paperwork from the mint stating they were struck on or before the first day of release from the mint. First Day of Issue designations are sought-after because there are so few of them compared to the overall population.

Premium Gold Foil Modern Masters NGC Labels Hand-Signed by John Mercanti

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 flies off the charts with the addition of a hand-signed signature by the coin’s designer John Mercanti!

Limited Availability

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.

2022 Modern Masters Five-Ounce Gold Proof PF70 UC FDI Mercanti

• Struck in Five Ounces of High-Purity 99.99% Pure Gold
• Third Release in the Modern Masters Trilogy
• St. George & the Dragon Design Re-Imagined by John Mercanti
• Proof Finish
• £500 Ascension Island Legal Tender
• NGC-Certified as Flawless PF70 Ultra Cameo
• First Day of Issue Designation by NGC
• Exclusive Gold Foil Label Hand-Signed by John Mercanti
• Premium Wooden Box with the Modern Masters Logo
• Authorized Worldwide Mintage of 19, Only Available Here
• Limited Availability

2022 Modern Masters One-Ounce Gold Proof PF70 UC FDI Mercanti

• Struck in One Ounce of High-Purity 99.99% Pure Gold
• Third Release in the Modern Masters Trilogy
• St. George & the Dragon Design Re-Imagined by John Mercanti
• Proof Finish
• £100 Ascension Island Legal Tender
• NGC-Certified as Flawless PF70 Ultra Cameo
• First Day of Issue Designation by NGC
• Exclusive Gold Foil Label Hand-Signed by John Mercanti
• Premium Wooden Box with the Modern Masters Logo
• Authorized Worldwide Mintage of 199, Only Available Here
• Limited Availability

2022 Modern Masters Five-Ounce Silver Proof PF70 UC FDI Mercanti

• Struck in Five Ounces of 99.9% Fine Silver
• Third Release in the Modern Masters Trilogy
• St. George & the Dragon Design Re-Imagined by John Mercanti
• Proof Finish
• £25 Ascension Island Legal Tender
• NGC-Certified as Flawless PF70 Ultra Cameo
• First Day of Issue Designation by NGC
• Exclusive Gold Foil Label Hand-Signed by John Mercanti
• Premium Wooden Box with the Modern Masters Logo
• Authorized Worldwide Mintage of 499, Only Available Here
• Limited Availability

2022 Modern Masters Two-Ounce Silver Proof PF70 UC FDI Mercanti

• Struck in Two Ounces of 99.9% Fine Silver
• Third Release in the Modern Masters Trilogy
• St. George & the Dragon Design Re-Imagined by John Mercanti
• Proof Finish
• £10 Ascension Island Legal Tender
• NGC-Certified as Flawless PF70 Ultra Cameo
• First Day of Issue Designation by NGC
• Exclusive Gold Foil Label Hand-Signed by John Mercanti
• Black Velvet Pouch with the Modern Masters Logo
• Authorized Worldwide Mintage of 999, Only Available Here
• Limited Availability

All sealed Gold Panda and Silver Panda Sets will be delivered in a deluxe “Chinese Red” presentation case with a handsome depiction of a Panda eating a bamboo sprig on the cover, accompanied by a colorful information booklet on the China Panda series and the three mints that strike these coins.

Here you have an opportunity to secure really special 2023 Gold and Silver China Pandas, flawless, FDI, with hand-signed labels that also identify the mint of origin, exclusively from our Scarce & Unique Division.

Do not wait for our limited supply of these mint-identified, hand-signed, flawless, FDI Gold and Silver Pandas to run out. This is your chance to secure full sets of Gold and Silver Pandas certified as coming from a specific China Mint facility, or individual Pandas from the mint of your choice. Don’t miss out!