| Coin | Quarter Sovereign 2023 Coronation |
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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.
This coin is part of a series commemorating the Coronation of King Charles III.
The mint says about it:
"To celebrate the recent coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, our 2023 Sovereign Collection design captures the ancient symbols of heritage and heraldry that inform the King’s family history and combine to form His Majesty’s coat of arms; the Royal Arms, used by the King in his official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom."
Each of the smaller four denominations depicts a part of the Royal Coat of Arms, while the five sovereigns depict the whole symbol. |
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| Obverse | |
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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 · 2023 ·. Translated from Latin, the legend means: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King, 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 | |
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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).
At the base of the helmet above the shield, a privy mark in the form of the letters CR (for "Charles Rex" - King Charles) within a crown.
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 FDC.
Available in sets only. |
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