1915 George V Sovereign

It is impossible to think of 1915 without thinking of the First World War, as the conflict that was so optimistically believed to be ‘over by Christmas’ raged on. Fear gripped those on the home front, as German Zeppelins bombed coastal towns. In battle, Allied troops suffered heavy casualties in the failed Gallipoli landings and the Battle of Loos, and the sinking of RMS Lusitania sent ripples of horror around the world. In 1915, George V proclaimed the name of the house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, inherited from Prince Albert, would change to Windsor, chosen for the castle that is still a much-loved home for the Royal Family. His handsome coinage portrait, featured on this original 1915 Sovereign, was created by the Australian Bertram MacKennal. This is the perfect historic coin to mark the centenary of the First World War in 2015.