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As we celebrate World Heritage Day, we take a look at some of the most historically significant and interesting sovereign coinage currently available at Hattons of London. These sovereign coins offer a fascinating and deeper look into the last 200 years of British history and coinage, recording some of the most important moments in the history of the world’s greatest gold coins.
Our Product of the Month for September brings them all together with a very special addition. Here, we take a closer look at The Queen Elizabeth II 1971-2021 Decimalisation 50th Anniversary Set – Mint State.
As you may have seen from our latest range of sovereigns, this year marks the 50th anniversary of decimalisation in Britain, in 1971. This ended over a thousand years of iconic coinage and designs. However, talk of decimalisation had started long before this. In 1847, a motion was put to Parliament, and the outcome was the creation of the florin.
Over the years, St George has continued to inspire people in many ways, striking a chord particularly with his namesake, King George IV. When George IV wanted to introduce a new coin, he decided on St George as the reverse subject.
The new gold sovereign was then created in 1817, designed by Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci. He took a different approach with his design, steering away from those that traditionally featured on coins. Pistrucci created a sense of movement, giving the saint the confidence and control while slaying the wounded dragon.
This coin design has become a classic, and is known across the world as a masterpiece of coin artistry; synonymous with the gold sovereign. In 1821, the classic design was altered and the Italian engraver produced his definitive St George and the dragon design, alongside a new portrait of King George IV.
And although St George and the dragon has graced gold sovereigns for 200 years, not since Pistrucci has the same designer created the artwork for both the monarch’s portrait and St George – until now! A new gold sovereign range has been minted, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the definitive design.
The 2021 George and the Dragon 200th Anniversary Gold Sovereign range features an exciting interpretation by talented artist Jody Clark, creator of the current coinage portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This also means that for the first time in 200 years, both the monarch’s portrait and the design of St George are the work of the same designer!
You can view the entire George and the Dragon range here.
There’s one coin in particular though that holds more meaning and beauty than any other, blending fact and fiction to produce what can only be described by many as the world’s most beautiful coin. Una and the Lion.
Then in 1817, the ‘new sovereign’ made its debut with a newly imagined design featuring St George slaying the dragon. The new design was created by Italian gem engraver Benedetto Pistrucci and was destined to become one of the world’s most loved coin designs.
