Product Information

The 2008 Gold Proof Sovereign depicts St George and the dragon in frosted relief on the reverse. The design stands proud of the brilliant mirror finish achieved by meticulous hand polishing of the die using fine diamond paste.

The obverse carries the familiar portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.

The 1958 Gold Sovereign depicts St George and the dragon on the reverse and is guranteed to be in very fine condition. The obverse bears the young effigy of the Queen by Mary Gillick.

Housed in a luxurious walnut veneer presentation case, the coins are accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity, signed by the Chief Executive of the Royal Mint.

Background & History

'Nothing, in my opinion, is more handsome than the St George and Dragon.'
George Goschen, April 1890

In his heartfelt tribute to Pistrucci's classically elegant design, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer echoed popular sentiment. Today, coin collectors around the world would surely agree.

The sovereign was first struck in 1489 on the direct orders of Tudor monarch Henry VII. Ever since, it has occupied a special place in the hearts of British subjects and numismatic experts alike.

Minting lapsed shortly after James I ascended to the throne of England in 1603. It was to be over 200 years before sovereigns were once again struck, this time in the reign of George III in 1817.

It was George Wellesley Pole, Master of the Mint, who commissioned his protégé, Benedetto Pistrucci, to create the striking image of St George and the dragon.

Pistrucci already enjoyed a considerable reputation as a gem engraver. Basing his design on the legends of classical antiquity, he created a lasting image of courage, virtue and determination.