Coin | Double Sovereign 2024 Saint George and the Dragon |
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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: William Wyon's reputation as one of history’s greatest coin engravers is forever linked to the reign of Queen Victoria. When Victoria was crowned Queen in 1838 Wyon created the iconic "Young Head" portrait of Victoria, which was so well liked by the monarch that it graced the coins of her reign for nearly 50 years.
Some years later Wyon received a private commission to design a personal medal for Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert. Wyon’s response was his own interpretation of St George and the Dragon, a design full of energy that captured the patron saint of England slaying the dragon beneath his rearing steed, believed to have been modeled upon Prince Albert’s favourite horse, Imaun.
Prince Albert’s Personal Medal was issued to Henry Cole in recognition of his tireless contribution to the Great Exhibition of 1851 and, as Wyon sadly passed away that same year, his interpretation of St George & the Dragon makes a fitting final chapter in a story that began years earlier with his rivalry with Benedetto Pistrucci (who designed the famous Saint George and the Dragon sovereign still issued today). |
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Obverse | |
The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King Charles III facing left.
In tiny letters on the neck truncation, the artist's initials: GD (for Glyn Davies).
Around, the monarch's legend: CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2024 ·. Translated from Latin, the legend means: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith, Saint Helena.
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Reverse | |
The reverse of the coin depicts St George on horseback, facing left, wearing a plumed helmet and a cape (and nothing else), holding a lance in both hands pointed towards a dragon rearing its head.
Around right, the name of the designer, W. WYON (William Wyon). In the lower left field, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated.
Around the rim, the Garter of the Order of the Garter, inscribed with the motto HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE · - translated from Medieval French, "May he be shamed who thinks badly of it" - an old motto of the British monarchs. |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: Proof FDC. Packaging: in presentation box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. East India Company SKU: FG24SOVGPDSV. Release date: January 2024. Release price: £1,295.00.
Mintage includes 50 individually boxed coins, plus coins in sets. |
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See also |
Saint Helena coins depicting Saint George and the Dragon: - Half Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon, 2019 - Five Gold Sovereigns, Saint George and the Dragon (Veronica Mackinnon, Nick Martin), 2020 - Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon, 2021 - Half Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon, 2021 - Quarter Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon, 2021 - Double Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2023 - 1 oz Gold, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2023 - 1 kg Silver, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2023 - 1 oz Silver, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2023 - Five Gold Sovereigns, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2024 - Double Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2024 - Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2024 - Half Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2024 - Quarter Gold Sovereign, Saint George and the Dragon (William Wyon), 2024
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