The Sovereign was revived in 1817 near the end of George III’s long reign. The timing of its return meant George III was the first monarch to appear on the modern coin, affording him a special place in The Sovereign’s story. Paired with Benedetto Pistrucci’s St George and the Dragon, commissioned especially for the new coin, Sovereigns bearing George III’s portrait were issued for four years until his death in 1820.
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 designer Kerry Davies, the mint mark’s size, style and placement were key to ensuring it could be struck alongside Pistrucci’s signature design. In heraldry, the cypher is a device that combines the initials of the monarch with their title. This particular mint mark combines George III’s first initial ‘G’ with ‘R’, an abbreviation of ‘Rex’, which is the Latin word for 'king'.
The use of cyphers can be traced back to Tudor times and are used as a means of identification, appearing in conjunction with the Royal Arms. From the reign of Henry VIII onwards the letter ‘R’ was added to the monarch’s first initial. This identifying mark was usually found on government papers and is still used by the monarch today as ‘CiiiR’, which stands for Charles Rex (‘Rex’ is the Latin word for 'king').
Originally, mint marks were used as a form of quality control and so that coins could be traced back to the mint that struck them in the event of a problem. The use of mint marks has evolved over time; today, when a coin is embellished with a mint mark, it’s usually a symbol of prestige marking a significant event or anniversary.
Commemorating the 200th anniversary of George III
This George III Two-Coin Set brings together a George III ‘Rose’ guinea, dated from 1761–86, with a 2020 Proof Sovereign featuring a special privy mark created to commemorate Britain’s longest-reigning king.
The longest-reigning king in British history, George III is the only monarch whose portrait has featured on the obverse of both Sovereigns and guineas produced by The Royal Mint.
The ill health George III experienced in his later years often overshadows his legacy, as it saw him declared unfit to rule and his son, who later became George IV, act as Prince Regent from 1811.
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George III Two-Coin Set
The 2020 Proof Sovereign features a special privy mark created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George III’s death
Price: £2,500.00
Discover great stories from history and how we're celebrating these moments within The Royal Mint
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