A celebratory Sovereign set for an historic coinage anniversary

In 1989 great social change was afoot and history was being made. The Berlin Wall was finally torn down and in the Far East, Chinese pro-democracy protestors clashed with security forces in Tiananmen Square. At The Royal Mint we were reflecting on the past as we celebrated 500 years of our flagship coin, The Sovereign.

This original three-coin Sovereign set from 1989 contains The Double-Sovereign, The Sovereign and The Half-Sovereign. The reverse was inspired by the original Sovereign of 1489, which features the Royal Arms at the centre of a double Tudor rose – an unusual departure from the St George and the dragon design. The obverse features a portrait of Her Majesty The Queen seated on a throne, designed by sculptor Bernard Sindall.