Coronation of King George IV [obverse] 1821

This is the obverse of a metal coin, likely silver, commemorating the Coronation of King George IV, made by Benedetto Pistrucci. The iconography of the coin speaks to the cultural politics of early 19th century Britain. The coin presents George IV in the style of a Roman Emperor. Note the laurel wreath around his head, connoting military victory and imperial authority. The decision to represent a British monarch in classical garb speaks to the institutional history of the Royal Mint and the broader aesthetic preferences of the British elite, who looked to classical antiquity for models of governance and taste. It also tells us something about the political context of the time. Fresh from victory in the Napoleonic Wars, Britain projected its power through such cultural symbols. As historians, our understanding of objects like this coin depends on careful research into the history of the monarchy, the Royal Mint, and the visual culture of the period. By attending to these contexts, we can better understand the meanings and functions of such artworks.