The gold Sovereign is one of Britain’s most famous coins. Collectors value its design and craftsmanship, and is thought of as The Royal Mint’s flagship, and most iconic coin. The traditional St George and dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci is replaced only on special occasions. One such occasion was Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, a unique occasion that called for a brand new design, which was created by Paul Day.
Her Late Majesty The Queen’s First Sovereigns
The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and her first coins appeared the following year. The Sovereign that was struck in 1953 was never issued to the public, but became part of a small number of Proof sets that were given to important national collections.
1953 Gold Sovereign
- That first Sovereign featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, with Pistrucci’s classic St George and the dragon design on the reverse.
1989 Gold Sovereign
- The 1989 Sovereign marked the 500th Anniversary of the original Sovereign
2002 Sovereign
- The 2002 Sovereign celebrated The Queen’s Golden Jubilee
2005 Gold Sovereign
- The 2005 Sovereign featured a stylised interpretation of the classic design
2012 Diamond Jubilee Sovereign
- The 2012 Sovereign was strictly limited edition
- A reverse design created for the 2012 Sovereign only
- Only the fourth time that the Sovereign reverse design has changed during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
