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Pobjoy Mint
2003 Gibraltar
St. George and the Dragon Coins
To commemorate the 1700th
Anniversary of the death of St. George, the Government of Gibraltar has
approved the release of a £1 coin and Sovereign.
The life of St. George is
surrounded in legend and mystery. To Christians, he was a professional
soldier, who publicly declared himself by tearing down Diocletian's edict
against the Christians, for which he was beheaded near Lydda in 303, to
become one of the early Christian Martyrs. The fame of St. George as a
defender of Christianity was imposed on the Greek legendary story of the
Virgin Andromeda and Perseus and retold as St. George and the Dragon. The
story quickly spread westwards believed to have been brought to Iona in
the 7th century.
St.
George was certainly included in the Church's calendar by the 11th century
and at the Council of Oxford in 1222, St George's Day was declared a
public holiday and growing in popularity Edward III instituted the Order
of St. George in 1349 and the Battle Cry "Saint George for
England".
St. George soon became
the Patron Saint of England, superseding St. Edward. It was at Agincourt
that Henry V is said to have called: "God for Harry, England
and St. George".
The most famous coin
depicting St. George and the Dragon is the British Sovereign that was in
use in Gibraltar many years ago. With the affinity that the people of
Gibraltar still have for the UK and the historical background to the
original design, it is most fitting that the Gibraltar Government should
remember the birth of the Patron Saint of England.
The design on the coin
depicts St. George mounted upon his horse about to slay the dragon which
has been adapted from part of the Parthenon Frieze. This particular image
represents the triumph of good over evil, with the dragon representing
Satan being slain by the Christian Saint The surrounds on the two coins
differ, with the £1 being dated in normal font with the wording
AMICUS-CHRISTI-GEORGIUS while the gold sovereign sized piece is dated in
Roman numerals with the wording HONI-SOIT-QUI-MAL-Y-PENSE.
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