Gold Ounce 2022 Queen's Virtues - Truth, Coin from Saint Helena - detailed information

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 £100.

This design is the second in The Queen's Virtues Series and represents Truth.

Truth is the principle of being and acting truthfully. The allegorical personification of Truth is depicted as a winged figure holding a mirror in her right arm, symbolic of self-truth. Next to her stands a child bearing a palm-branch, whom she comforts demonstrating the role of us all to protect the innocent.

Taking its inspiration from the allegorical figure of the virtue of Truth as depicted on the Victoria Memorial situated outside Buckingham Palace, this second design in the series features the words VINCIT OMNIA VERITAS on the proof version, and the English translation TRUTH CONQUERS ALL on the bullion version.

The allegorical presentation of the Queen’s six virtues was first presented on the Victoria Memorial, situated outside Buckingham Palace. Designed after Queen Victoria’s death in 1901, The Winged Angel of Victory is featured at the very top of the monument and crouched at her feet are the allegorical figures of Courage and Constancy. Courage wears a helmet and bears a club, while Constancy holds a ship’s compass, and both have cloaks swirling out in the breeze. Beneath stand personifications of Justice, Truth and Charity. Designed and sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock, he described the symbolism of the monument as devoted to the “qualities which made our Queen so great and so much beloved".

All coins in the series have been designed by Dutch medallist Elles Kloosterman.