1 oz St George and the Dragon Gold Coin | 2026

1 oz St. George and the Dragon Gold Coin 2026 — classic Pistrucci motif from 1817 in the full 1 oz format

The 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 gold coin is a Royal Mint bullion coin with a mass of 31.103 g (1 troy oz), a fineness of 999.9/1000, a 32.69 mm diameter and a 100 GBP face value as legal tender of the United Kingdom. The 2026 vintage is a modern adaptation of the classic Pistrucci motif from 1817 — St. George slaying the dragon — from the Sovereign 7.32238 g format to the full 1 oz bullion format, giving the designer a 4x larger surface for more precise rendering of the sculpture details. The obverse features the Charles III portrait by Martin Jennings (2022). The 999.9 fineness (vs 916.7 of historical Crown Gold Sovereigns) increases engraving quality and provides VAT-exempt status in the EU with significant headroom above the 900/1000 minimum. The coin holds Royal Mint LBMA accreditation, CGT-free status for UK tax residents and the full Royal Mint 4-tier optical security system introduced in 2021.

Technical specification

Why 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 earns a place in your stack

• Classic Pistrucci motif from 1817 in the full 1 oz format: adaptation of the iconic St. George slaying the dragon composition — the Benedetto Pistrucci 1817 design that still functions on the Sovereign reverse today — from the 7.32238 g Sovereign format to the full 1 oz (31.103 g) gives the designer a 4x larger surface for precise sculpture of horse, armour and dragon details that were not visible in the smaller historical format.
• Fineness 999.9 (vs 916.7 of historical Crown Gold Sovereigns): the purer gold allows more detailed engraving of the reverse sculptural elements (horse muscles, dragon scales, drapery of the saint's cloak), which would be less expressive in the Crown Gold 916.7 alloy (harder due to the 8.33% copper admixture). The 999.9 fineness also ensures unequivocal EU VAT exemption with significant headroom above the 900/1000 minimum.
• The world's most famous mint motif in the full bullion format: St. George slaying the dragon is the most-imitated coin motif in history — Pistrucci's 1817 composition functions on the reverse of Sovereigns from Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Elizabeth II and Charles III, on commemorative medals, on colonial coins of the British Empire and on inspirations from mints worldwide.
• CGT-free for UK tax residents: 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 is United Kingdom legal tender (face value 100 GBP) and qualifies for Capital Gains Tax exemption for UK tax residents — a status characteristic of all Royal Mint legal tender coins, regardless of whether the coin is a classic Sovereign 7.32238 g 916.7 or a modern 1 oz 999.9 with the Pistrucci motif.
• Full Royal Mint 4-tier optical security system: the 2026 vintage is protected by the full latent image, tincture lines, surface animation and micro-text package introduced by the Royal Mint in 2021. The full 1 oz size (32.69 mm) allows easier visual verification of all four security features than in smaller Sovereign fractions.

History of the Pistrucci motif — from Sovereign 1817 to 1 oz St. George 2026

Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855) was an Italian sculptor born in Rome who in 1817 was hired by the Royal Mint to design the classic reverse of the newly introduced Sovereign coin — the full British pound in the modern form introduced after the Napoleonic Wars and the United Kingdom's return to the gold parity. Pistrucci designed the St. George slaying the dragon composition, which he drew from Christian mythology (the legend of the 3rd/4th-century saint rescuing a princess from a dragon) and executed in the style of classical Greek and Roman sculpture.

Characteristic elements of Pistrucci's composition: St. George nude on horseback (in line with the convention of classical antique sculpture, where nudity symbolises the heroic status of the hero), with a spear raised to deliver the fatal blow on the dragon lying under the horse's hooves. The horse is shown dynamically in a rearing position, with tense muscles conveying the tension of the moment. The dragon under the hooves symbolises evil defeated by the saint — the motif of the triumph of good over evil transferred from the Christian medieval tradition to classical Greek sculpture.

Pistrucci served as chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 to 1855 and is also the author of the famous Waterloo Medal commemorating the victory over Napoleon in 1815 — a medal in a scale significantly larger than any earlier work of this kind (the project lasted 30 years, completed shortly before Pistrucci's death). The 1817 St. George motif remains to this day the Sovereign reverse in all vintages from Victoria (1838-1901), through Edward VII, George V, Elizabeth II (1957-2021) to Charles III (since 2022).

The adaptation of the Pistrucci motif to the full 1 oz format is a natural development of the classic — the full size of 31.103 g and 32.69 mm diameter allow a 4x larger sculptural surface than the original Sovereign 7.32238 g and 22.05 mm. The larger format enables precise rendering of elements that were barely visible to the naked eye in the classic Sovereign — horse muscles, drapery of the saint's cloak, dragon scales, background details and engravings around the figure.

Royal Mint holds LBMA Good Delivery accreditation since 1750 — the oldest active LBMA status among mints and refineries producing gold bullion. The mint operates at the Llantrisant site (Wales, United Kingdom) since 1968 after relocation from London's Tower Hill, where the historical Pistrucci worked. Pistrucci's 1817 motif is today one of the most famous coin designs in world history and a symbol of the continuity of Royal Mint sculptural tradition over 200+ years.

Obverse — Charles III by Martin Jennings (2022)

The obverse of the 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 features the King Charles III portrait designed by Martin Jennings in 2022. It is the official monarch portrait used by the Royal Mint on all bullion and commemorative coins since Charles III ascended the throne in September 2022. Charles III is shown in left profile (the opposite direction to the Elizabeth II portrait), uncrowned, with simple hair conveying the realism of the 73-year-old king's likeness.

Around the portrait runs the inscription CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 100 POUNDS · 2026 — the Latin titles Dei Gratia (by the Grace of God) and Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith) along with the 100 British pounds face value and strike year. The tradition of Latin monarch titles dates back to Victorian Sovereigns of 1838 and is still used by the Royal Mint today. Pairing the Charles III portrait with the 1817 Pistrucci motif creates a continuation of the 200-year tradition of the St. George reverse since Victoria.

Martin Jennings (b. 1957) — British sculptor known for public monuments to Sir John Betjeman (St Pancras Station in London) and George Orwell (BBC Broadcasting House) — was selected by the Royal Mint through a competition for the official Charles III coin portrait. The design was personally approved by the King and is the only official likeness on coins of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries that use the British monarch portrait on local coins.

Reverse — St. George slaying the dragon (Pistrucci 1817 adaptation on 1 oz)

The reverse of the 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 features the classic Benedetto Pistrucci composition from 1817 — St. George slaying the dragon — adapted to the full 1 oz format (32.69 mm diameter, 31.103 g mass). St. George is shown nude on horseback in classical antique sculpture style, with a spear raised to deliver the fatal blow on the dragon lying under the horse's hooves. The full 1 oz format allows precise rendering of all details: horse muscles in dynamic position, the tense saint figure, dragon with detailed scale texture and the drapery of the cloak fluttering behind the rider.

The Pistrucci composition symbolises the triumph of good over evil (Christian motif) expressed in the language of classical Greek and Roman sculpture. St. George in Christian mythology was a 3rd/4th-century warrior who saved a princess from a dragon spreading terror in the area — a motif of particular importance in English heraldry, where St. George has been the patron saint of England since the 13th century and a symbol of chivalry. Pistrucci, as an Italian from Rome, framed the motif in a classical rather than medieval convention, giving the composition a universal, timeless character.

In the 1 oz format, the Royal Mint designer was able to showcase sculptural elements that are barely legible to the naked eye in the original Sovereign 22.05 mm: horse coat micro-texture, prominent saint muscles, armour details (Roman helmet, sandals), scales on the dragon's body and edge ornaments around the central composition. The reverse background of the 2026 vintage additionally contains protective elements of the Royal Mint 4-tier security system (latent image, tincture lines), which integrate with the classic composition without disrupting the visual harmony.

The 2026 vintage is protected by the Royal Mint 4-tier optical security system introduced in 2021. Latent image — a hidden image in the reverse field, variably visible from different rotation angles. Tincture lines — heraldic micro-lines allowing colour identification in traditional heraldry. Surface animation — surface animation reacting to changing light incidence angle, giving an effect of motion of the St. George scene under light. Micro-text — micro-text distributed on the edge, invisible to the naked eye, readable under 10x magnification. All four security features have been designed to integrate harmoniously with the classic Pistrucci composition without disturbing the visual effect of the heritage motif.

What to look out for when buying

Check that the coin offered is specifically the 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 (fineness 999.9, mass 31.103 g, diameter 32.69 mm) — the Royal Mint also produces classic Sovereigns 7.32238 g in the Crown Gold 916.7 fineness with the same Pistrucci motif but in the smaller format. The difference matters for cost and tax — 1 oz is a larger purchase with greater capital commitment, while the Full Sovereign is more flexible in the 1/4 oz gold mass segment.

The market premium on 1 oz St. George 2026 typically ranges 5-8% for the current vintage, comparable with 1 oz Tudor Beasts and slightly above the neutral 1 oz Britannia (4-7%). The premium for the 2026 vintage may rise for earlier vintages as original Royal Mint mintages are absorbed, if the issue turns out to be limited or single-year only (typically the Royal Mint releases such commemorative bullion in a limited single-vintage mintage).

CGT-free status applies to all Royal Mint legal tender coins — 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 is United Kingdom legal tender (face value 100 GBP) and qualifies for Capital Gains Tax exemption for UK tax residents, regardless of whether the customer buys a classic Sovereign 7.32238 g 916.7 or a modern 1 oz 999.9 with the Pistrucci motif. This status distinguishes the Royal Mint St. George coin from neutral bullion coins (Krugerrand, Maple Leaf, Wiener Philharmoniker), which despite LBMA accreditation and high fineness are not CGT-free in the UK.

Check the 4-tier security features — the Royal Mint introduced the full package (latent image, tincture lines, surface animation, micro-text) on bullion in 2021, so the 2026 vintage is fully protected. The full 1 oz size facilitates verification of all elements: latent image well visible when rotating the coin under light, edge micro-text more readable under magnification than in smaller Sovereigns 22.05 mm. When buying second-hand, it's worth checking all four security features.

Why GoldInvest24

• Producers with LBMA accreditation: the catalogue includes coins and bars from mints accredited by the London Bullion Market Association — the Royal Mint holds LBMA Good Delivery status since 1750, the oldest active status among mints and refineries producing gold bullion.
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• Current precious metal quotations: spot data for comparing offer prices with the current market valuation — check the current precious metal prices before purchase.
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Comparison of 5 Royal Mint coins — St. George 1 oz vs Sovereign vs Tudor Beasts vs Britannia

See the entire gold bullion coins category available at GoldInvest24.

FAQ — common questions about the 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026

What is the 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026?

The 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 is a Royal Mint bullion coin with a mass of 31.103 g (1 troy oz), a fineness of 999.9, a 32.69 mm diameter and a 100 GBP face value. The 2026 vintage is a modern adaptation of the classic Pistrucci motif from 1817 — St. George slaying the dragon — from the Sovereign 7.32238 g format to the full 1 oz bullion format, giving the designer a 4x larger sculptural surface. Obverse: Charles III by Martin Jennings (2022). Full Royal Mint 4-tier security system.

What is the technical specification of the 1 oz St. George 2026?

Mass 31.103 g (1 troy oz), fineness 999.9/1000 (fine gold, vs 916.7 of historical Crown Gold Sovereigns), diameter 32.69 mm, thickness approx. 2.79 mm, face value 100 GBP (legal tender United Kingdom). Obverse: Charles III portrait by Martin Jennings (2022). Reverse: St. George slaying the dragon — adaptation of the classic Benedetto Pistrucci motif from 1817 to the full 1 oz format. The 2026 vintage is protected by the Royal Mint 4-tier optical security system.

Who designed the St. George motif and what is its history?

The classic St. George slaying the dragon motif was designed by Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855) — Italian sculptor born in Rome, chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 to 1855, also author of the famous Waterloo Medal commemorating the victory over Napoleon (1815). Pistrucci introduced the motif in 1817 for the newly introduced Sovereign coin (after the Napoleonic Wars and the UK's return to the gold parity). Composition: St. George nude on horseback in classical antique sculpture style with a spear over the dragon. The motif functions on the Sovereign reverse to this day — from Victoria (1838) to Charles III.

How does the 1 oz St. George 2026 differ from a classic Sovereign and the 1 oz Britannia?

1 oz St. George 2026 — full 1 oz format with the Pistrucci motif, fineness 999.9, mass 31.103 g, face value 100 GBP. Classic Full Sovereign — historic format 7.32238 g in Crown Gold 916.7, face value 1 GBP, the same Pistrucci motif but in the smaller 22.05 mm format. 1 oz Britannia — 1 oz neutral bullion with the personification of Great Britain (instead of St. George), fineness 999.9, lowest premium in the Royal Mint segment. 1 oz St. George combines the Pistrucci motif (Sovereign classic) with the 1 oz format (bullion efficiency).

For whom is the 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 a practical choice?

For collectors valuing the classic Pistrucci motif and intending to have it in the full 1 oz format instead of the smaller Sovereign 7.32238 g, for those building a CGT-free portfolio with Royal Mint in the 1 oz gold 999.9 segment, and for UK tax residents using CGT-free status to optimise capital-gains taxation. The 1 oz format offers a more precise rendering of Pistrucci's sculpture details than the classic Sovereign.

What is the LBMA, VAT, CGT and IRA status of the 1 oz St. George 2026?

LBMA Good Delivery — YES (Royal Mint holds the status since 1750, the oldest active). VAT in the EU — EXEMPT (legal-tender coin, fineness 999.9 well above 900, struck after 1800 — meets EU Directive 2006/112/EC Art. 344). CGT-free in the United Kingdom — YES (British legal tender Royal Mint, CGT exempt status for UK tax residents). IRA-eligible in the USA — NO (the IRS admits exclusively American coins to retirement accounts).

How do I buy the 1 oz St. George and the Dragon 2026 at GoldInvest24?

Place an order in our shop with access to the gold bullion coins category, the full range of Royal Mint Sovereigns (Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Elizabeth II, Charles III), the Tudor Beasts series and the Britannia. Check the current gold quotes to compare the premium against the current spot price. Technical descriptions and specifications are available in PL / DE / EN language versions.