2016-08-11 Thu

On 5th August, the Royal Mint announced that a new £5 gold sovereign in Brilliant Uncirculated quality will be issued. The first coin of this denomination, which belonged to the great coinage reform of 1816, was issued in 1820 by King George III. These coins are very rare and were sometimes used during the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII as well.

The design of St. George slaying the Dragon was created for the 1817 gold and silver coins. During the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1839, the “Una and the Lion” coin featuring young Queen with Lion of England was issued.

The recent £5 gold piece and five one-sovereign pieces are similar in weight and denomination. They were first issued in 1980 in Proof sets and the design has also been featured on commemorative reverse designs that celebrated the 500th anniversary of the first issue of the gold sovereign coin during Henry VIII’s times. In 2005, the design was modified to include the British Coat of Arms.

The new coin also features the year of issue, 2016, and St. George’s depiction. The obverse features the new portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II.