L&S-168; ESC-Unlisted. Mintage: 2. Weight: 36.62 gms. Edge: Plain. By Benedetto Pistrucci. Obverse: Blank; Reverse: St. George slaying the dragon within wide garter with large buckle, the garter ruled with horizontal lines. An EXTREMELY RARE and highly important trial striking of the first Pattern for what would become the first "modern" Crown. The reverse die of this issue is the same as that used upon the famed 1817 Pattern Crown (L&S-163), of which four examples are known bearing two distinct obverse dies. The patterns and the present trial are all recorded to have been struck out of collar on broad, thick silver planchets that are approximately 20% overweight relative to the circulating denomination; this indicates that these pieces were struck concurrently. This Pattern is considered the first to bear Pistrucci's iconic and highly original conception of St. George and the dragon; two other such Patterns would be issued in that year (L&S-166 and L&S-167), but which exhibit designs closer to the final circulating issue and which were struck on planchets of normal size and weight.

In the Ferrari ("Nobleman") auction of the present example, it is noted: "In mint state and of the very greatest rarity as only two were struck thus". The Lingford sale (Glendining & Co. - 10/1950) of the second known example similarly notes that "only two specimens were struck". No additional examples have arisen since. As such, this is one of a mere six known examples in silver of this historic first "St. George and the dragon" design (there is one additional known example of a reverse trial in lead). The present example exhibits a great degree of originality, the surfaces deeply toned and lustrous, with satiny shine pervading the entirety of the reverse fields. The design is fully struck, with extraordinary detail visible upon the heads and upper bodies of the St. George and his horse. An EXTREMELY RARE opportunity for connoisseurs of British numismatics.