The Sovereign
In 1489 King Henry VII instructed The Royal Mint to produce 'a new money of gold'. The new coin was to be called the gold Sovereign.
St. George the Dragon Slayer: The Legend
St George the Dragon Slayer is one of medieval Europe’s greatest legends and represents the victory of good over evil.
In almost 200 years the design has rarely changed, with only a handful of reverse designs appearing on The Sovereign since 1817.
The Sovereign in the First World War
Before the First World War, The Sovereign was a firmly established part of circulating currency in Britain, having been in use since 1817.
Benedetto Pistrucci - Royal Mint Chief-Medallist
Benedetto Pistrucci engraved the coin portraits of both George III and George IV but is perhaps best known for his magnificent Waterloo Medal and his George & Dragon created for the new gold sovereign of 1817.
Paul Day - 2012 Sovereign Reverse Designer
The 2012 sovereign was Paul Day's first design for the Royal Mint. Paul’s design was chosen from a number of designs put in front of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee as a result of a design competition.
The 2012 Diamond Jubilee Sovereign
In celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the 2012 Sovereign featured a brand new design for one year only.
Buy a Sovereign for a future sovereign
The Royal Mint crafted a special edition silver proof £5 Crown to celebrate the arrival of the new Prince of Cambridge.
In celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the 2012 Sovereign featured a brand new design for one year only. Discover the Diamond Jubilee Sovereign design from the Royal Mint.