The British gold Sovereign is one of the most popular coins ever minted. The first Sovereign was struck in 1489 by order of King Henry VII. It had remained in circulation during the reigns of several Monarchs.
It was redesigned in 1817 by Benedetto Pistrucci with a new fascinating design. His depiction of a famous scene featuring St George anfd the dragon has remained on the gold Sovereign for over two centuries. (with exception of a few commemorative years).
The featured half gold Sovereign Memorial is the second issued by the Royal mint in 2022. It features the first official portrait of King Charles III designed by Martin Jennings. The effigy follows a long-standing tradition, with the King facing left, opposite his mother, the Queen.
In honor of the late Queen, the coin was struck with a new design on the reverse by Jody Clark. His design is similar to Timothy Noad’s Royal Arms from the Platinum Jubilee. The main difference, rather than St. Edward’s crown, the new Memorial Sovereign features the Tudor Crown chosen by King Charles III. Heraldic symbols and motifs were also added making it easily distinguishable from Noads.
This historic significance makes the 2022 Memorial Sovereign a favorite among collectors and investors alike. Typically, there’s only one sovereign issued in a given year. With the Queens passing and the Ascension of King Charles III, the Royal Mint authorized a Memorial Sovereign to commemorate the historic event.