2023 marks the 200th anniversary of the gold double sovereign, the third coin in the ‘family’ of sovereign coins that was Britain’s, and the world’s, Gold Standard in the 19th and early 20th centuries. First struck in 1823, the double sovereign featured the Classical Depiction of St George and the dragon created by a master of coin design, Benedetto Pistrucci. His design has become known the world over, and is today synonymous with the gold sovereign itself.
For the 200th anniversary of the double sovereign a special series of celebration sovereigns is being minted. To tie in with the original of 1823, the design is that same tale of St George – but in a new 2023 re-imagining of it by a modern day master of design, Jody Clark.
Introducing the 2023 Double Sovereign 200th Anniversary Gold Sovereign Range…
Here are the most important benefits:
- These coins commemorate the 200th anniversary of the double sovereign, one of the four sovereign coins of the Gold Standard ‘family’ that circulated as British currency. Sovereigns are highly sought after for their purity, reliability and historic longevity.
- Both the portrait of the king on the obverse side, and St George on the reverse side, are by the same artist, Jody Clark.
- The new St George image maintains an historic tradition and is by the modern-day master of coin design, Jody Clark. His expertise has succeeded in creating a powerful portrayal of the time-honoured battle between good and evil. The new design is accompanied by the year-date of the first double sovereign in Roman numerals ‘‘MDCCCXXIII’, as a tribute to the original coin of 1823.
- The production of these coins has been strictly limited: only 999 one-eighth sovereigns have been produced, 350 sovereigns, and just 320 of each quarter sovereign and half sovereign!
These incredibly restricted mintages ensure these 200th anniversary coins are imbued with rarity similar to the 1823 original they celebrate.
The designs are skilfully rendered by Mr Clark who was, in 2015 the youngest artist ever to have his portrait of a monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) chosen for use as a definitive coinage portrait on British currency. His work is admired around the world for its refinement and detailed accuracy, especially in the realm of portraiture.
The 200th anniversary of the double sovereign is a significant moment in the history of this illustrious gold coin and Jody Clark’s exceptional new design calls to mind the skillful precision of Pistrucci’s original work.
You can purchase the one-eighth sovereign coin HERE, or alternatively, you can contact our sovereign experts on 0333 234 3103.
