2016-12-24 Sat

A special design was introduced to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the sovereign in 1989 by the Royal Mint. The obverse depicts Queen Elizabeth II seated on a throne. The reverse design replicates the 500-year-old original Royal Arms along with Tudor roses. Since 1817, 15 different designs or monarchs have been featured on the sovereigns from more than six different mints. The Jody Clark effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is depicted on the current obverse and the reverse, as usual features the Pistrucci design.

The 200th anniversary of the modern sovereign will be celebrated with a coin that features a privy mark with number 200 above a cross-and-shield design. The mark would appear on the reverse under the dragon.

The bullion coins have unlimited mintage while the 2017 quarter-, half-, sovereign, double-sovereign and 5-sovereign coins are offered as limited mintage.

The Proof coins were struck with original remastered tools with the 1820 “Garter” design. Other inscriptions include HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE’ in French meaning “May he be shamed who thinks badly of it.” The year 2017 also appears on the obverse for the first time since 1887.