Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint
  • 1 Sovereign 2023-2024, N# 384653, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Charles III
  • 1 Sovereign 2023-2024, N# 384653, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Charles III
  • 1 Sovereign 2023-2024, N# 384653, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Charles III, D-Day Sovereign, struck on 6 June 2024
Description

Since 1489, the Sovereign has been linked with the British monarchy, spanning over five centuries. Henry VII sought a 'new money of gold' to showcase the wealth and authority of the emerging Tudor dynasty after the Battle of Bosworth, hence requiring a name evocative of majesty and power.

The Sovereign, a gold coin of the United Kingdom, holds a nominal value of one pound sterling. Initially circulated since 1817, it was widely accepted in Britain and beyond, but now primarily serves as a bullion coin, occasionally incorporated into jewelry. Moreover, both circulation strikes and proof examples are frequently sought after by collectors for their numismatic significance.

• The 2023 strike was exclusively offered as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition on November 14th, 2023, commemorating King Charles's 75th Birthday. It showcased frosted designs on both the obverse and reverse, along with a plain edge.

• The D-Day Sovereign, minted on June 6, 2024, also exhibited frosted designs on both sides, accompanied by a privy mark portraying a soldier’s helmet engraved with the number ‘80’.

Obverse

Depicts King Charles III’s effigy, surrounded by the Latin inscription. Engraver's initials on the neck.

CHARLES III DEI GRATIA REX FIDEI DEFENSOR means King Charles III, by the Grace of God King, Defender of the Faith.

Engraver: Martin Jennings (MJ)

CHARLES III•DEI•GRA•REX•FID•DEF•
MJ

Reverse

Depicts St. George on horseback holding short sword, the horse rearing to right over a fallen dragon which has a broken lance in its chest; in exergue, the date and the artist's initials B.P.

Saint George (between 275–281 AD to 23 April 303), according to legend, was a Roman soldier of Greek origin and officer in the Guard of Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for failing to recant his Christian faith.

According to the legend, the narrative episode of Saint George and the Dragon took place somewhere he called "Silene", in Libya. The town had a small lake with a plague-bearing dragon living in it and poisoning the countryside. To appease the dragon, the people of Silene fed it two sheep every day. When they ran out of sheep they started feeding it their children, chosen by lottery. One time the lot fell on the king's daughter. The king, in his grief, told the people they could have all his gold and silver and half of his kingdom if his daughter were spared; the people refused. The daughter was sent out to the lake, dressed as a bride, to be fed to the dragon.

Saint George by chance rode past the lake. The princess tried to send him away, but he vowed to remain. The dragon emerged from the lake while they were conversing. Saint George made the Sign of the Cross and charged it on horseback, seriously wounding it with his lance. He then called to the princess to throw him her girdle, and he put it around the dragon's neck. When she did so, the dragon followed the girl like a meek beast on a leash.

The princess and Saint George led the dragon back to the city of Silene, where it terrified the populace. Saint George offered to kill the dragon if they consented to become Christians and be baptised. Fifteen thousand men including the king of Silene converted to Christianity. George then killed the dragon, and the body was carted out of the city on four ox-carts. The king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint George on the site where the dragon died and a spring flowed from its altar with water that cured all disease.

Engraver: Benedetto Pistrucci

2024 B.P.

Edge
Characteristics
Material Gold
Fineness 0.91667
Weight 7.99 g
Diameter 22.05 mm
Thickness 1.5 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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