The ‘Sovereign’ gold coin bearing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most iconic British gold coins; it is part of a tradition dating back to 1817, during the reign of King George III. Issued by the Royal Mint throughout the long reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022), this ‘Sovereign’ features on its obverse one of the four successive royal portraits of the Queen that have marked these seven decades, ranging from the youthful effigy created by Mary Gillick to the crowned portraits of the Queen in her later years by Arnold Machin, Raphaël Maklouf and Ian Rank-Broadley.
The reverse features the famous design depicting St George slaying the dragon, engraved by the Italian master Benedetto Pistrucci in 1817 and widely regarded as one of the undisputed masterpieces of world numismatics — a powerful symbol of strength, courage and endurance. Minted in 22-carat gold (916.7/1,000) — the Sovereign’s historic fineness for over two centuries — this coin embodies an unrivalled British heritage.
Highly sought after by collectors for its rich historical heritage and by investors for its stability and international liquidity, the Sovereign is a coin of choice in numismatic history. Weighing 7.99 g in total, comprising 7.32 g of fine gold, and with a diameter of 22.05 mm, it is therefore slightly larger than a Napoleon 20 gold franc. Its compact size and iconic design make it an ideal addition for diversifying a precious metals portfolio, whilst offering ownership of a tangible piece of British history.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. The edge shown in the 3D video is not representative of the actual product.
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