To celebrate 200 years of fine tradition of gold sovereigns, the British Royal Mint has issued an impressive two-coin set comprising two magnificent gold sovereigns dated 1948 and 2008
Each coin depicts Benedetto Pistrucci's classic 'St George slaying the dragon' design featured on the reverse.
Product Information
According to the Mint, the 2008 Gold Proof Sovereign depicts St George and the dragon in frosted relief on the reverse. The design stands proud of the brilliant mirror finish achieved by meticulous hand polishing of the die using fine diamond paste.
The obverse carries the familiar portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
The 1948 Gold Sovereign depicts St George and the dragon on the reverse and is guaranteed to be in very fine condition. The obverse bears the young effigy of the Queen by Mary Gillick.
Housed in a luxurious walnut veneer presentation case, the coins are accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity, signed by the Chief Executive of the Royal Mint.
Background
The sovereign was first struck in 1489 on orders of Henry the VII but minting was halted just after James I ascended to the throne in 1603. It was over 200 years before sovereigns were once again struck, this time in the reign of George III in 1817.
It was George Wellesley Pole, Master of the British Royal Mint, who commissioned his protégé, Benedetto Pistrucci, to create the striking image of St George and the dragon. Pistrucci based his design on the legends of classical antiquity, to create a lasting image of courage, virtue and determination.
George Goschen, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, proudly stated in April 1890, "Nothing, in my opinion, is more handsome than the St George and Dragon."
The US government regularly give their troops gold sovereigns as emergency money in the eventuality they are stranded in a foreign land.
Specifications
Alloy: 22 Carat Gold
Weight: 7.99 gms
Diameter: 22.05 mm
Designer: (Reverse) Benedetto Pistrucci
Designer: (Obverse) Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Code: SOV0850
Cost: £395.00 or approx 780 USD. (the price may vary depending on the spot price of gold)
Only 250 sets are available of this delightful and impressive 2 piece gold coin set, celebrating a special 50th anniversary and bringing together 200 years of fine tradition in gold coins
More information is available at the royalmint.com
Comments
Post a Comment