| Coin | Five Sovereigns 2019 Una and the Lion |
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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 five sovereigns coin - with face value of £5 is a continuation of the pre-decimal five sovereigns, and has been issued as a decimal coin since 1980.
This coin is a modern re-interpretation of one of the world’s most beautiful coins, the iconic Una and the Lion Five Pound piece by William Wyon, issued in 1839 for inclusion in the first specimen coin sets of Queen Victoria's reign.
The obverse of the original showed the young portrait of Queen Victoria, also by Royal Mint engraver William Wyon (1795 - 1851). The reverse draws its theme from Edmund Spenser’s epic poem entitled the Faerie Queene, first published in 1590 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and depicts the Queen as Una guiding the British lion. There is a powerful contrast between the restrained energy conveyed by the lion and the peace and grace of the standing figure of Una. The design is an unusual one for a British coin, being too medallic - but then, it was never intended for circulation.
The Mint says about this coin:
The 2019 Sovereign collection celebrates one of the most extraordinary Monarchs in British history and is a unique tribute to Queen Victoria’s greatest coinage during her reign as Queen and Empress. Released in the 200th year since her birth, each coin in this beautiful heritage collection is inspired by the original designs, 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 on whose Empire "the sun never set".
The 2019 Five Sovereign features the design from Queen Victoria’s rarest and most celebrated coins. Inspired by the 1839 Una and Lion 5 Pound Piece, arguably the most beautiful English coin in the world, this is a rare opportunity for serious collectors to acquire one of just 200 beautifully minted modern proof versions available individually. |
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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). The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in tiny letters below left, above the Queen's shoulder.
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA ·. 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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The reverse shows the figure of Queen Victoria standing, robed and crowned, holding and orb in her left hand and directing a lion to left, with a sceptre extended in her right hand.
Around, the inscription DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS. (translated from Latin: May the Lord direct my steps).
In exergue, the date of issue in Latin numerals: MMXIX (2019).
Below that, 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. MMXIX |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof.
Packaging: in presentation box with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
East India Company SKU: SH195SOV
Issue price: £3,999.00
200 individual coins, plus 200 in sets. |
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| See also |
The Una and the Lion design has been issued, re-issued and re-interpreted in the following formats:
- Five Pounds Gold 1839 Una and the Lion - the original issue
- 5 kg Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 2 kg Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 1 kg Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 5 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 5 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- Gold £20 (2.5 oz) Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- 2 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 2 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- Five Sovereigns, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Five Pounds, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Five Sovereigns, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2019
- 1 oz Gold, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- Double Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Half Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- Quarter Sovereign, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- 2 kg Silver, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, Alderney 2019
- 1 kg Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 5 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 2 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom 2019
- 2 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Una and the Lion, Saint Helena 2021
- 1 oz Gold Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2021)
- 100 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2021)
- 10 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2021)
- 1 oz Silver Bar, Una and the Lion, United Kingdom, undated (released 2021)
Coins featuring the Una and the Lion theme and issued for Saint Helena include:
- 5 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- Five Sovereigns Proof, Una and the Lion, 2019
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 0.5 g Gold Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 kg Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 5 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 2 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Masterpiece - Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Una and the Lion, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Una and the Lion, 2023
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