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The British Gold Sovereign continues to be globally recognized as one of the most enduring of official bullion coinage of all time. Its royal history and distinctive design makes it a favorite among collectors, and a must have for investors. The modern period of the Sovereign is clearly distinguished by the date-ranges of each of the reigning monarchs featured on the obverse of the coins.
The lengthy reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has produced six distinct designs of the bullion Sovereign. This wonderful design displays fifth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse features the timeless interpretation by Benedetto Pistrucci of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon.
The British Gold Sovereign rightly traces its royal lineage back to 1489 and the authorization of King Henry VII of a new 20 Shilling gold coin. With the regal engraving of the king seated upon his throne, this 20 Shilling piece quickly became known as "the Sovereign." Perhaps the real story begins to unfold with the 1817 introduction of the "new" Sovereign. This was a bold step to definitively place the 20 shilling Sovereign at the head of the so-called "Recoinage" of the British Empire.
Enlisting the master skills of Benedetto Pistrucci, the coin's design was brought to life. Pistrucci's contribution was the reverse design, that to this day has not lost the form and beauty of his original engraving. His interpretation of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon depicts a strength that deserved to be emblazoned upon the British Gold Sovereign. Although there have been minor revisions during the ensuing years, nothing has been lost of its original magnificence. Every ancient empire struct their coinage with images of strength. Although in more modern times, much has been lost regarding the the images portrayed by many of the nations of the world on their official coinage, the British Gold Sovereign has continued to stand strong.
The obverse of the Sovereign has consistently displayed an effigy of the current reigning monarch. These include Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, and since 1957, Queen Elizabeth II. Each of the monarchs represented are stunning examples of fine bullion coinage. Although the modernization of each from Victoria, on through Elizabeth II is clear, the wonderful depictions of each period are true to their times. This makes each one a vital contribution to a complete British Gold Sovereign collection!
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