Struck in 1823 during the reign of George IV, this impressive gold Double Sovereign marks the first year that the £2 Sovereign was issued for circulation, making it a landmark coin in the history of British money. As a larger and far less frequently struck denomination than the regular Sovereign, it is a piece that has long been sought after by collectors who appreciate both rarity and significance.

The obverse presents an uncrowned portrait of George IV facing left, showing the king in a dignified yet natural style characteristic of the period. His features are carefully modelled, with fine attention to the hair and profile, surrounded by a Latin legend recording his titles as king of the United Kingdom. On the reverse, Benedetto Pistrucci’s celebrated design of Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon fills the wide field, the dynamic movement of horse and rider making full use of the larger canvas provided by the Double Sovereign.

At approximately 28 millimetres in diameter and around 16 grams in weight, the 1823 Double Sovereign has a notable presence in the hand, containing roughly twice the gold of a standard Sovereign of the era. Although a Double Sovereign was first struck in 1820 under George III, that earlier piece was not issued for circulation, so it is the 1823 coin of George IV that holds the distinction of being the first Double Sovereign to circulate. The fact that the next circulating £2 piece did not appear until 1887 underlines how seldom this impressive denomination was produced in the nineteenth century.

For the discerning numismatist, the 1823 George IV Gold Two Pounds offers a rare opportunity to own the coin that effectively begins the circulating history of the Double Sovereign. With its handsome uncrowned portrait, dramatic Saint George and the dragon reverse and pivotal place in the Sovereign series, it would form a distinguished highlight in any collection of classic British gold.