King Charles and the Dragon: The New 2024 Gold Sovereigns

Introduced on 1/22...............

This is a nice big photo of both sides of the newly reimagined British Gold Sovereign for 2024. King Charles is shown standing side by side with an apparently tamed representation of the Devil. For two centuries this dragon iconography has adorned these coins but in a much different context. I will get to that momentarily.

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We can thank Jeannette for bringing this story to my attention yesterday. I have little to add or comment on here because both the imagery of the coin itself and the quoted explanation and history on the Hattan’s of London website really say most of what needs to be said.

Off to the side of sales page: “This is the first time that the design on the commemorative Gold Sovereign Coins has ever replaced Saint George with the monarch alongside the dragon”.

Further down the page there is a longer official explanation:

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“Gold sovereign coins have been associated with the legend of St. George and the dragon for more than 200 years, and this medieval tale of chivalry continues to capture the imagination today. Many iterations of this familiar motif have appeared over time, but none so innovative as a new design by celebrated coin artist Jody Clark, who has taken a bold new approach to mark a significant milestone in the reign of King Charles III.

This world-first coin has been struck to mark the milestone of His Majesty’s first 500 days of reign, recognizing our new King’s place in the long history of the British gold sovereign with an innovative take on a classic design.

Fast securing his place in numismatic design history, Jody Clark has brought his artistic flair and precision to bear on a bold re-working of the Saint George dragon motif, replacing England’s patron saint with our reigning monarch. By placing the dragon and the King side by side in profile, and giving them equal prominance, he suggests that the mythical beast can be tamed rather than having to vanquish it - an idea more in line with Charles’ modern form of Kingship.”

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This 2012 version of the Royal Sovereign depicts what the iconography on this coin has always represented for centuries until now. Saint George vanquishes the Devil, shown in the form of a dragon.

This symbolism was never meant as “a tale of chivalry” nor was it ever really about a “mythical beast”.

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The story of Saint George comes down to us from the time of the very late Roman empire and is about an alleged high-ranking Roman officer who refused to renounce his faith in Christ and was tortured and finally killed for this act of defiance around 303 AD.

This legend became intwined with the iconography of the vanquishing of the Devil, in the form of a dragon, from very early on and long predates any tales of “medieval chivalry”.

The new imagery on this coin has kicked both Saint George and the iconography and symbolism associated with him to the curb. King Charles stands side by side with what has always been a visual metaphor for Satan and has replaced St. George as the spiritual symbol of the British Empire.

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This set can be had for the “in your face” price of just $999.00! The coins come in various sets and price ranges but the most expensive are stamped in 22 carat (of course!) gold.

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Alternately you may purchase this set for the 91 in the mirror price of just $919.00! For those of more modest means there is even a $69.00 coin that is made with less gold!

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I think I am about done here. All of this was released on 1/22/2024, of course, just in time for what Jeannette and I now refer to as Dragon Day on 2/10. We are in THEIR ritual timeframe now. The signaling couldn’t be clearer.

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