| Coin | Double Sovereign 2019 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 double sovereign - with face value of £2 is a continuation of the pre-decimal double sovereign, and has been issued as a decimal coin since 1974.
Apart from the sovereigns of the United Kingdom, the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha has also authorised some mints to issue double sovereigns under its jurisdiction. These are denominated in Saint Helena Pounds - the local variation of the Pound Sterling. Following long-standing tradition, this type of coin has never had its value and denomination spelled out anywhere on the coin.
The Mint says about this coin:
On the tenth anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria an unusual commemorative crown was designed. The influence of the Gothic revival resulted in a magnificent new effigy of Queen Victoria created by the most outstanding engraver of his day, William Wyon. This inventively beautiful Gothic style was repeated by Wyon on the reverse, creating a coin which remains highly sought after and a key masterpiece for collectors of British coinage.
As a tribute to this unique coin, the 2019 Double Sovereign takes its inspiration from the majestic reverse design of the Gothic Crown featuring the four crowned shields representing the primary realms of Great Britain. Situated between the angles of the shields, roses, a shamrock and a thistle can be found. In the centre, the Order of the Garter bears the French inscription "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE" replicating Wyon’s original composition. Surrounding the design in a similar Gothic style as its predecessor, the words "DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS" are repeated.
The coin is part of the 2019 Queen Victoria Sovereign Collection which celebrates one of the most extraordinary chapters in British history and is a unique tribute to Queen Victoria’s greatest coinage during her reign as Queen of the United Kingdom and Ireland and later Empress of India. Released on the 200th Anniversary of her birth, each coin in this beautiful heritage collection is inspired by the original design widely considered to be Queen Victoria’s finest and greatest. It is issued as a long-lasting tribute to one of Britain’s most significant Monarchs, and her Empire on which it was said, the Sun never set. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide but "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, where the Queen's portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).
The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.
Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is "uncouped" (includes the Queen's shoulders) and extends almost to the rim of the coin; consequently, the legend does not run continuously around the rim.
The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in tiny letters below left.
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2019 ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Saint Helena.
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| Reverse | |
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Within a beaded border, the reverse design represents the three nations of the United Kingdom 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 the rim, interrupted by St Edward's crown on top of the shields, the inscription DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS in ornate Gothic style. Translated from Latin, it means "May the Lord direct my steps". The inscription was first used on the Una and the Lion five gold sovereigns in 1839.
Above left, after the S of DEUS, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof.
Packaging: in presentation box with Certificate of Authenticity (200 coins), or in sets (200 coins).
East India Company SKU: SH201929
Issue price: £1,295.00
200 individual coins, plus 200 in sets. |
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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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