The Sovereign was first introduced in 1489 when Henry VII demanded a ‘new money of gold’ to represent the power of his reign. It was issued by every monarch who followed until James I stopped the tradition. The Sovereign was eventually reborn during the coinage reforms of 1816, featuring Benedetto Pistrucci’s St George and the dragon design.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the end of George III’s reign, all of the coins in The Sovereign 2020 Collection feature a special mint mark in the form of the king’s royal cypher. Created by Royal Mint coin designer Kerry Davies, the mint mark’s size, style and placement were key to ensure it could be struck alongside Pistrucci’s signature design

The History of The Sovereign. The Royal Cypher Mint Mark