Half Sovereign 2020 The Three Graces, Coin from Alderney - detailed information

The sovereign is a gold coin of the United Kingdom, with a nominal value of one pound sterling. Struck from 1817 until the present time, it was originally a circulating coin (see pre-decimal Sovereign) accepted in Britain and elsewhere in the world; it is now a bullion coin not intended for circulation, the intrinsic value of which is much higher than its face value. There are several denominations of the Sovereign: Five Sovereigns (Quintuple Sovereign, five pounds gold), Double Sovereign, Full Sovereign, Half Sovereign and Quarter Sovereign; the current sovereign - with face value of 50 pence is a continuation of the pre-decimal half sovereign, and has been issued as a decimal coin since 1980.

Apart from the sovereigns of the United Kingdom, the British Crown dependency of Alderney has also authorised some mints to issue half sovereigns under its jurisdiction. These are denominated in Alderney Pounds - the local variation of the Pound Sterling. There is a long-standing tradition in the United Kingdom that this type of coin does not have its value and denomination spelled out on the coin; this is not, however, the case with Alderney sovereigns - which have the face value written on them.

This coin is a modern re-issue of the reverse design of The Three Graces pattern crown. Created by the renowned engraver William Wyon early in his decorated career with the Royal Mint, the original coin was a pattern made in 1817 for a Crown denomination produced late in the reign of King George III; it was never circulated but has earned a reputation for its attractive and symbolic reverse. The art world that Wyon was establishing himself in was dominated by neoclassicism. Its proponents were influenced by stories of Ancient Greece and Rome and the simple, symmetrical style they saw in artefacts, engravings and on their Grand Tours of Europe.

William Wyon is undoubtedly one of history’s greatest coin designers. Born in England in 1795, his father was an engraver of medals and coins, his uncle a die engraver, and his cousin Thomas was Chief Engraver of The Royal Mint from 1815 until his untimely death in 1817. So it was perhaps inevitable that young William would pursue a career in the coin industry too. As a 22-year-old Assistant Engraver he created his neoclassical masterpiece: The Three Graces. While it never went into production, around 50 test "Pattern Pieces" were produced which became collectors’ items as Wyon’s reputation grew. His "Young Head" portrait of Queen Victoria graced the coins of her reign for nearly 50 years, while his "Una and The Lion" remains a favourite of collectors to this day.