Coin | Quarter Sovereign 2022 Platinum Jubilee |
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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 quarter sovereign - with face value of 25 pence is the only sovereign denomination with no pre-decimal counterpart; it was introduced in the United Kingdom in 2009.
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 half 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: The 2022 Quarter Sovereign Gold Proof Coin honours the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 2022 she became the first British monarch to mark 70 years on the throne.
In honour of her Platinum Jubilee, our 2022 Sovereign Collection features the heraldic symbols that form Her Majesty’s official coat of arms. The 2022 Quarter Sovereign contains the shield that sits at the heart of the coat of arms and displays the emblems of the different nations of the United Kingdom.
The Sovereign is one of the world’s most famous coins with a history stretching back over 500 years. First introduced in the late 15th Century when King Henry VII demanded a "new money of gold" to demonstrate the power of his reign, the Sovereign was a favourite of Tudor monarchs until its minting came to an end during the reign of James I. Some 200 years later, Britain found itself in an economic crisis that led to the Great Recoinage of 1816, and the re-introduction of the Sovereign to replace the Guinea. The design for the new "Modern Sovereign" was created by the great Benedetto Pistrucci, whose dynamic image of St George slaying the dragon became the "standard" Sovereign design. It has featured on almost all annual Sovereign releases since its introduction in 1817, only changed on rare occasions and generally only for significant royal events or anniversaries. Now, to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, East India Company Collections is proud to introduce the 2022 Gold Proof Sovereign Collection, featuring a new heraldic design to mark this historic milestone. |
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Obverse | |
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: ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · F · D · ST. HELENA · 2022 ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Saint Helena.
In the right field below is 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 | |
The reverse of the coin, designed by by Dutch artist Elles Kloosterman, depicts the lower part of an ornate version of the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. In its standard variant used outside of Scotland, the shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three passant guardant lions of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counterflory of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Ireland. The crest and the supporters are only partially visible - the lower part of the knight's helmet of the crest, and just a hint of the lion of England on the left and the Unicorn of Scotland on the right.
The Garter circlet which surrounds the shield is inscribed with the Order of the Garter's motto (partly obscured), HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE (from old French: Shame on he who thinks evil).
In the rim around below, the motto of the British monarchs: DIEU · ET · MON · DROIT; it is also in French, and means "God, and my right". |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: proof. Available in sets only. |
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See also |
Coins commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee (ordered by metal / size / country): - 1 oz Platinum, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Arms and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - 5 oz Gold, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Cypher and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - 2 oz Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Australia - 2 oz Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, New Zealand - 2 oz Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - 2 oz Gold, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Arms and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - Five Sovereigns (40 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - Five Sovereigns (40 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, United Kingdom - 1 oz Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, New Zealand - 1 oz Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - 1 oz Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Tokelau - Double Sovereign (16 g Gold), Platinum Jubilee privy mark, Australia - Double Sovereign (16 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - Double Sovereign (16 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, United Kingdom - Sovereign (8 g Gold), Platinum Jubilee privy mark, Australia - Sovereign (8 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - Sovereign (8 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, United Kingdom - 1/4 oz Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Australia - 1/4 oz Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, New Zealand - 1/4 oz Gold, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Arms and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - Half Sovereign (4 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - Half Sovereign (4 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, United Kingdom - Quarter Sovereign (2 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - Quarter Sovereign (2 g Gold), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, United Kingdom - 0.5 g Gold, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Congo (Democratic Republic) - 1 kg Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - 1 kg Silver, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Cypher and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - 10 oz Silver, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Cypher and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - 5 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, New Zealand - 5 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - 5 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Tokelau - 5 oz Silver, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Cypher and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - 2 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - 2 oz Silver, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Arms and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - 1 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Australia - 1 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Canada - 1 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Cayman Islands - 1 oz Silver, Platinum Jubilee - Platinum Jubilee Emblem, Malta - 1 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, New Zealand - 1 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Saint Helena - 1 oz Silver, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Tokelau - 1 oz Silver, Platinum Jubilee - Royal Arms and Equestrian Effigy, United Kingdom - £5 Crown Platinum Jubilee - Royal Arms and Equestrian Effigy (with silver, gold and platinum), UK - £5 Crown Platinum Jubilee - Royal Arms and Jody Clark Portrait (with silver and gold versions), UK - €2.50 Copper-Nickel, Platinum Jubilee - Platinum Jubilee Emblem, Malta - $1 AlBr, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Australia - 50 Cents copper-nickel (with silver proof version), Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Australia - 50 Pence Platinum Jubilee - Royal Cypher and Jody Clark Portrait (with silver and gold versions), UK - 50 Pence Platinum Jubilee - Royal Cypher and Equestrian Effigy (with silver, gold and platinum), UK
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