Royal Mint UK has released UK 2012 Gold Sovereign. The 22 Carat Gold coin weight at 7.988 gram will have a maximum Coin Mintage of 8,144 pieces. A new reverse design had been created to celebrate for the 2012 Sovereigns, Only the fourth time that the Sovereign design has changed in the Queen's reign. Th reverse designed by Paul Day, from a number of designs put in front of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee as a result of a design competition including a total of five designers.
The reverse of the 2012 sovereign coin shows a ferocious dragon being despatched by a knight in Gothic armour. The obverse of the new coin will feature the acclaimed portrait of The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS that has graced UK coins since 1998.
"I have chosen to opt for a Romantic version of the St George and the dragon theme - a medieval knight of Arthurian legend rather than a classical hero. I have given the dragon a more threatening attitude and size, so that it represents a real menace and not a weak foe," Paul said.
Each Sovereign has been minted to the exact weight and diameter of the first modern Sovereign of 1817. It is housed in a deluxe presentation case and comes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing the coin’s weight, diameter, gold content and limited edition presentation of just 5,500.
The gold Sovereign is without doubt one of Britain’s most famous coins: a coin so rich in history, it’s considered by many as the flagship coin of the Royal Mint, and synonymous with Britain herself. The traditional St George and dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci is replaced only on special occasions. The Queen’s historic Diamond Jubilee is such an event, so the 2012 Sovereign features a brand new design for one year only. The Royal Mint ran a limited competition, inviting five artists to create a fresh interpretation of St George and the dragon.
Technical Specification
Denomination: N/A
Alloy: 22 Carat Gold
Weight: 7.988 g
Diameter: 22.05 mm
Designer (Reverse): Paul Day
Maximum Coin Mintage: 8,144
For enquiries and coin orders, you can visit Royal Mint at www.royalmint.com
