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.

Just three years later the Ricardo Ingot Plan proposed that all circulating gold coins should be replaced by banknotes but The Sovereign endured. 200 years later, its story continues with The Sovereign 2019, once again featuring Pistrucci’s classic design struck in 22 carat gold and finished to The Royal Mint’s highest Proof standard. Each coin comes with a Certificate of Authenticity that guarantees it was struck by The Royal Mint, the home of The Sovereign.