The 1937 George VI Five Pounds Gold Proof Sovereign is one of the most coveted and prestigious issues in British numismatics, struck by The Royal Mint to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty following the abdication crisis that reshaped the monarchy in 1936. Created solely for inclusion within the official four-coin gold proof sets, this grand piece is renowned as the pinnacle of the coronation coinage, remarkable in both scale and beauty.

The obverse bears the distinguished first coinage portrait of George VI by Thomas Humphrey Paget, a compelling likeness that presents the new King with youthful dignity and resolve. The reverse displays Benedetto Pistrucci’s celebrated design of Saint George in battle against the dragon, a masterful work of neoclassical artistry that has become inseparable from the sovereign’s legacy. On this expansive 36 millimetre canvas, weighing an imposing 39.94 grams of 22 carat gold, Pistrucci’s composition achieves a level of drama rarely rivalled in coinage.

The 1937 proof £5 sovereign was never struck for circulation. Only 5,501 complete proof sets were issued by The Royal Mint to mark the coronation, and each contained just a single specimen of this magnificent coin. As such, every surviving piece is scarce, with comparatively few graded examples appearing on the open market. Certified by NGC as Proof 62 Cameo, this particular coin is distinguished by an appealing contrast between frosted relief and mirrored fields, a finish that heightens the artistry of both portrait and reverse.

As the only proof £5 sovereign produced during the reign of George VI, the coin represents not merely a commemorative issue but a defining artefact of twentieth-century numismatic history. It embodies the transition of the monarchy during a turbulent age, while standing as a testament to The Royal Mint’s enduring artistry and craftsmanship.