Description
We bore witness to an event that had not been seen since 1937: the coronation of Britain’s new king, Charles III, and of his wife Camilla, as queen. Even the coronation of his own mother, Elizabeth II, was almost seventy years ago. The crowning of a new British monarch is an event that most of us will only ever see once.
At the ceremony, we saw not only the crowning of King Charles III but also that of his wife who henceforth became known as Queen Camilla. This change to her titles is a sign of the deep affection the king has for the woman who is by his side, and now some history-making coins have been announced that further illustrates this.
The first sovereign ever to feature a reigning British king and queen, side by side on the same coin!
Some truly exceptional coins had been proposed for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. They feature portraits of both the King and his new Queen, but given how rarely permission has ever been granted for multiple portraits on gold sovereigns, we did not hold out much hope.
Now, we are delighted, if even a little shocked, that these coins have indeed been approved by Buckingham Palace. To celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, where his wife and new Queen, Camilla, was by his side, this new £20 sovereign also depicts them together, side-by-side.
Double portrait sovereign coins are rare – those depicting a reigning king and queen have never been produced before!
There have only ever been a handful of occasions on which monarchs have appeared alongside someone else on sovereign coins. It’s usually a predecessor, although in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II she did appear alongside her husband Prince Philip. Never before though, has a reigning king and queen appeared on the same coin – that is until now:
- Our King, Charles III, is the ninth monarch to have sovereigns bearing his portrait – but never before has a reigning king appeared with his queen. This is also the first £20 sovereign upon which Queen Camilla has appeared.
- The skilful portraits of King Charles III and Queen Camilla are by Jody Clark, designer of the fifth (and final) coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
- The reverse design features the official Coronation Emblem which pays tribute to the four countries of the United Kingdom, bringing together roses, thistles, shamrocks and daffodils into the shape of the St Edward’s Crown.
As the very first of its kind, I think you’ll understand the ongoing importance this new £20 sovereign has. Other monarchs may be crowned in the future and they too may have sovereigns celebrating the event, and possibly they will produce double portrait coins, but these coins featuring King Charles III alongside Queen Camilla will always be the very first minted depicting reigning monarchs on the same coin.
Authorised by Tristan Da Cunha and approved by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Buckingham Palace, it is a wonderful celebration – the first time in history, a sovereign coin has been minted featuring both the King and Queen.
Benefit from the SELL OUT GUARANTEE
The 2023 King Charles III Coronation Double Portrait Gold £20 Sovereign is limited to just 50 coins, but this is subject to our new SELL OUT GUARANTEE. What this means is that availability of this coin will end on 31st August 2023. At that time, any coins that are unsold will be melted down and verified to that effect.
At that point, we will issue to owners of this coin a new certificate stating the final mintage which may be lower, or possibly considerably lower, than 50. If the mintage remains at 50 then this means the coins sold out entirely to keen customers, and if not you may have secured for yourself a low mintage rarity.
Either way, there will be little or no surplus of this coin on the secondary market and so the coin you own will be a rarity!
