Timeline of the British Coins of Queen Elizabeth II

Timeline of the British Coins of Queen Elizabeth II

Throughout her incredible seventy-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II appeared on a multitude of different coins, from pre-decimal to now. The very first coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was created by Mary Gillick in 1953, and was used on coins in the United Kingdom and other countries until 1970.

Here, we will be looking back at the British coins of Queen Elizabeth II through the years.

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The Striking of Bi-Metallic Coins

Bi-Metallic One Pound Coin

Our latest release, the 2022 St George and the Dragon Bi-Metallic Gold Sovereign Range, are the world’s first gold sovereign coins to be struck using two types of solid 22 carat gold, also known as bi-metallic. We are already familiar with bi-metallic coins in circulation. However, this is the first time this technically demanding form of striking has been attempted with gold coins.

In our latest blog, we will be exploring the process of striking bi-metallic coins…

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The Most Significant St George & the Dragon Gold Coins

Significant St George and the Dragon Gold Coins

It’s now well over two-hundred years since the first modern sovereign coin appeared, with St George slaying the dragon as its motif. In 1821, Benedetto Pistrucci’s classical depiction first appeared and it is remarkable that this design still appears on gold sovereigns produced today.

The tale of St George vanquishing his foe has an enduring relationship with gold sovereign coins and one that is anchored in over two centuries of tradition. Here, we will be exploring ten of the most significant St George and the Dragon gold coins as mentioned by coin specialist Peter Hutchison.

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St George and the Dragon Design Heritage Coinage

St George and the Dragon Design Heritage Coinage

A depiction of St George vanquishing the dragon is one of, if not the, most renowned reverse designs on sovereign coins. This mythical tale of good triumphing over evil has such a long and illustrious association with the gold sovereign coin that the two are almost synonymous.

Engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci, the George and the Dragon design first appeared on British sovereigns in 1817. For more than 200 years, this design has been used on the coins of every British monarch, except for William IV. Here, we will be exploring the coinage available at Hattons of London that feature this remarkable design…

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The Legend of St George and the Dragon

St George and the Dragon Statue

Saint George is the patron saint of England. Widely celebrated across Europe, he is recognised as a religious martyr who vanquished the dragon in medieval times.

We all know the basis surrounding this legend. However, there are multiple different versions, as you would expect from a story as old as this one. In our latest blog, we explore the story of St George slaying the Dragon.

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