| Coin | Half Sovereign 2021 Gothic Crown |
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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 part of a two-coin set, which is the second release of the Heritage Series by the Commonwealth Mint, following the Una and the Lion series.
This release commemorates the Gothic Crown, an 1847 Queen Victoria design by former Royal Mint engraver William Wyon. Only 8,000 of the original Gothic Crowns were ever struck many remain firmly in the hands of delighted collectors.
This 2021 issue features a unique young effigy of Queen Elizabeth II in Gothic styling by Jody Clark. Queen Elizabeth II has never been styled in this way before, and the effigy was approved by the Palace exclusively for use on the 2021 Alderney Gothic Crown.
The second coin in the series features Queen Victoria's Gothic portrait on the reverse. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows a young portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in Gothic style; she is crowned with the same crown that Queen Victoria has on her Gothic portrait, and wears a richly decorated gown.
The designer's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are below left.
The inscription around the effigy is in ornate Gothic script and reads Elizabeth dei gratia britanniar. reg: f:d in the outer circle, and Alderney c.i. 2021 half sovereign in the inner circle.
The monarch's legend is in Latin and in translation means Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith. Alderney C.I. designates Alderney, part of the Channel Islands. |
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| Reverse | |
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Within a decorated border, the reverse design represents the three nations brought together by the Act of Union in 1801 and depicts a crowned cruciform (in a cross pattern) shields bearing the three lions passant of England (twice, in positions 1 and 3), the lion rampant of Scotland (2), and the harp of Ireland (4). The shields are contained within a deeply tressured circular panel. In the angles are two roses, a shamrock and a thistle - the national plants of England, Scotland and Ireland respectively. In the centre there is a four-leafed flower.
At centre, a small flag of the Union (commonly known as The Union Jack), surrounded by the Order of the Garter inscribed with its motto HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE (translated from Old French: May he be shamed who thinks badly of it).
Around above, interrupted by St Edward's crown on top of the English shield, the inscription tueatur unita deus - May God guard these United (Kingdoms). Around below, also interrupted by the crown, the date of issue of the original coin, in Latin: anno dom mdcccxlvii - abbreviated from Anno domini MDCCCXLVII - Year of Our Lord 1847. As on the obverse, all the lettering is in ornate Gothic style. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
tueatur unita deus anno dom mdcccxlvii |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: Proof FDC.
Packaging: in presentation case, with a Certificate of Authenticity. |
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| See also |
The Gothic Crown design has been issued and re-issued in the following formats (ordered by metal / size / country):
- Gothic Crown 1847 (the original edition)
- Gothic Crown 1853 (proof only re-issue)
- 10 kg Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 5 kg Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 2 kg Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 1 kg Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 10 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, St Helena 2022
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 2 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 2 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, St Helena 2022
- 2 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- Five Sovereigns (40 g) Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, St Helena 2022
- Double Sovereign (15.98 g) Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- Double Sovereign (15.98 g) Gothic Crown, Saint Helena 2019
- Sovereign (8 g) Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- Half Sovereign (4 g) Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- Quarter Sovereign (2 g) Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 2 kg Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, St Helena 2022
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 10 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 10 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, St Helena 2022
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, United Kingdom 2021
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, St Helena 2022
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, Alderney 2021
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Gothic Crown, St Helena 2022
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