Sovereigns from a coronation year – particularly those struck in London – are highly desirable and this Sovereign dates from 1911. On 22 June that year, George V’s coronation took place in Westminster Abbey and it was one of the last events to have a gathering of Europe’s nobility in attendance before the outbreak of the First World War.

The Sovereign features Bertram Mackennal’s portrait of George V on the obverse and Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic St George and the dragon on the reverse. This coin is amongst the last circulating Sovereigns struck in London before the outbreak of the First World War, which ended their production.

George V gold Proof Five Pounds 1911

Obverse - Bare head left, with raised BM for Bertram Mackennal on truncation, legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:

Reverse - St George and dragon right, date in exergue, B.P. to upper right of exergue, edge milled

Toned over underlying proof brilliance, with a number of hairlines, has been graded and slabbed by NGC as PF61.

By the time of the Coronation of George V the brilliant proof finish was back in fashion and the "long" gold proof sets of his coinage contained the largest portrait in gold upon the Five Pounds by the Australian sculptor Bertram MacKennal.

The abbreviated Latin legend translates as "George the Fifth, by the grace of God, King of the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India."