Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates/Benedetto Pistrucci/archive1
Benedetto Pistrucci (29 May 1783 – 16 September 1855) was an Italian gem-engraver, medallist and coin engraver, probably best known for his Saint George and the Dragon design for the British sovereign coin. Born in Rome in 1783, he became prominent as a cameo carver. In 1815, he moved to Britain, where he would live for most of the rest of his life. His talent brought him to the attention of William Wellesley-Pole, the Master of the Mint. Pole engaged Pistrucci to design new coinage, including the sovereign, which was first issued in 1817 to mixed reactions. In 1819 he was commissioned to create the Waterloo Medal, a huge piece some 5.3 inches (130 mm) in diameter that the British government planned to award to the generals and national leaders who had defeated Napoleon. It took him thirty years to complete the design, but because of the coin's great size it could not be struck. After Pistrucci's death, the George and Dragon design was restored to the sovereign coin, and is still used today. (Full article...)
Wehwalt, and anyone else interested: thoughts and edits (up to 1025 characters total) are welcome. There's no rush; this hasn't been scheduled at TFA yet. This batch finishes up blurbs for FACs promoted in 2017. - Dank (push to talk) 20:36, 31 January 2020 (UTC)