Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Crown 1902, KM# 803, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Edward VII, Coronation of Edward VII
  • 1 Crown 1902, KM# 803, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Edward VII, Coronation of Edward VII
Description

Edward VII (Albert Edward; 1841–1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The Edwardian era, which covered Edward's reign and was named after him, coincided with the start of a new century and heralded significant changes in technology and society, including steam turbine propulsion and the rise of socialism.

The British crown, the successor to the English crown and the Scottish dollar, came into being with the Union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland in 1707. As with the English coin, its value was five shillings.

Always a heavy silver coin weighing around one ounce, during the 19th and 20th centuries the crown declined from being a real means of exchange to being a coin rarely spent and minted for commemorative purposes only. In that format it has continued to be minted, even following decimalisation of the British currency in 1971. However, as the result of inflation the value of the coin was revised upwards in 1990 to five pounds.

Obverse

Bare head of the King Edward VII facing right.

The legend "Edwardus VIII Dei Gratia Britanniarum Omnium Rex Fidei Defensor et Indiae Imperator" means "Edward VIII by the Grace of God King of All the Britains, Defender of the Faith and Emperor of India".

Engraver: George William de Saulles

EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
DE S.

Reverse

Depicts St. George on horseback holding short sword, the horse rearing to right over a fallen dragon which has a broken lance in its chest; in exergue, the date and the artist's initials B.P.

Saint George (between 275–281 AD to 23 April 303), according to legend, was a Roman soldier of Greek origin and officer in the Guard of Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for failing to recant his Christian faith.

According to the legend, the narrative episode of Saint George and the Dragon took place somewhere he called "Silene", in Libya. The town had a small lake with a plague-bearing dragon living in it and poisoning the countryside. To appease the dragon, the people of Silene fed it two sheep every day. When they ran out of sheep they started feeding it their children, chosen by lottery. One time the lot fell on the king's daughter. The king, in his grief, told the people they could have all his gold and silver and half of his kingdom if his daughter were spared; the people refused. The daughter was sent out to the lake, dressed as a bride, to be fed to the dragon.

Saint George by chance rode past the lake. The princess tried to send him away, but he vowed to remain. The dragon emerged from the lake while they were conversing. Saint George made the Sign of the Cross and charged it on horseback, seriously wounding it with his lance. He then called to the princess to throw him her girdle, and he put it around the dragon's neck. When she did so, the dragon followed the girl like a meek beast on a leash.

The princess and Saint George led the dragon back to the city of Silene, where it terrified the populace. Saint George offered to kill the dragon if they consented to become Christians and be baptised. Fifteen thousand men including the king of Silene converted to Christianity. George then killed the dragon, and the body was carted out of the city on four ox-carts. The king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint George on the site where the dragon died and a spring flowed from its altar with water that cured all disease.

Engraver: Benedetto Pistrucci

1902 B.P.

Edge

"An ornament and a safeguard in the 2nd year of his reign" in Latin.

Decus Et Tutamen first appeared on some of the earliest British milled (machine made) coins. It was intended to reassure users that the edge of the coins had not been clipped, but could also be taken to mean that the monarch depicted was also an ornament and a safeguard.

DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI II

1 Crown

Coronation of Edward VII

KM# 803 Sp# 3978/9
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 28.28 g
Diameter 38.61 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Alt # Sp# 3978, Sp# 3979
Mint
Royal Mint

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