| Coin | Gold Ounce 2022 Queen Elizabeth II - Mary Gillick Portrait |
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Saint Helena is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean which is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The currency of the island is the Saint Helena pound, fixed at parity with the pound sterling. The island has authorised some private mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes - including in the popular gold ounce (1 oz gold) format, denominated as £5.
This coin is part of a four-coin set featuring the first four "definitive" portraits of Queen Elizabeth II which were used on the coinage of Commonwealth countries of which she was Head of State (the fifth portrait is on the obverse of each coin).
This design shows the first definitive effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Mary Gillick, which depicts the wreathed young head of the Queen facing right. The portrait was used on pre-decimal coinage, and also on Maundy coins until the Queen's death in 2022. |
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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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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). In small letters on the left, the artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the face value: QUEEN ELIZABETH II · ST. HELENA · FIVE POUNDS · 2022 ·.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows the laureate young laureate bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right - her effigy known as the "First Portrait". The laurel wreath in the Queen's hair is tied with a ribbon with two ends flowing behind.
The designer's initials, M.G. (for Mary Gillick) appear incuse on the base of the shoulder truncation, and can be seen when the coin is viewed at an angle.
Below left, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated.
There is no inscription. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
(none) |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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