PISTRUCCI

Benedetto (2 son of Federico Pistrucci, judge of the high criminal court of Rome). b. Rome 29 May 1784; a gem-engraver at Rome 1800; went to Paris Dec. 1814, and to London 1815; designed the St. George and the dragon on the reverse of the gold coinage 1817, which is still in use; an outside a istant at the mint 1816, acted as chief engraver from 22 Sept. 1817, chief medallist 1828; engraved part of the coinage at end of reign of George III, and all the coins of early part of George IV; engraved the coronation medal of George IV 1820–1, and of Victoria 1838; made the silver seal of the duchy of Lancaster in 15 days by a new proce of his invention 1838; resided at the Mint 1817–49; made cameos and intaglios for which he obtained high prices; made busts of the duke of Wellington and of Pozzo di Borgo; was paid £3,500 for the famous Waterloo medallion 1850. d. Flora lodge, Englefield Green, near Windsor 16 Sept. 1855. A. Billing’s Science of gems (1875) 3, 224; F. P. Weber’s Medals by foreign artists (1894) 62–7; N. Car lisle’s Memoir of W. Wyon (1837) 43 etc. ; G.M. Oct. 1856 pp. 653–6. Note. —In the British museum with the shelf mark 10825 d. 28 is A collection of letters, etc. from newspapers and magazines on B. Pistrucci and W. Wyon as medallists.