Five Sovereigns 1995, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Five Sovereigns 1995, Coin from United Kingdom
CoinFive Sovereigns 1995

The sovereign is a gold coin of the United Kingdom with a nominal value of one pound sterling, so the five sovereigns piece is denominated as having £5 (five pounds sterling) in face value. Struck from 1817 until the present time, the sovereign 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.

In most recent years, it has borne on the reverse Benedetto Pistrucci's design of Saint George and the Dragon, created in 1817. Occasionally, the Royal Mint also releases one-year types.

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 sovereign piece is a continuation of the pre-decimal gold five pounds, and has been issued as a decimal coin since 1980.

The designs of all denominations are identical, as - according to tradition - this type of coin has never had its value and denomination spelled out anywhere on the coin. The various denominations are normally only distinguished by size and weight, these being exactly in proportion to their face value; however, five pound pieces issued after 2009 are an exception in that they have the designer's full name PISTRUCCI in the exergue and not just his initials.

Since 1817, the composition has always been 22 carat (91.67%) gold.

Beginning with the 1984 issue, the Royal Mint started to place a letter "U" to the left of the date to denote Uncirculated versions of the five pound gold coins, as opposed to the proof versions. 2001 was the last date of the "Brilliant Uncirculated" gold five pounds to bear the "U" mark; after this date, the practice was discontinued.

It has to be noted that these coins are, in fact, of a grade somewhat higher than simply "Brilliant Uncirculated".

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 1,718
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Obverse
United Kingdom / Five Sovereigns 1995 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she used to wear on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.

Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).

Around, the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Reverse
United Kingdom / Five Sovereigns 1995 - reverse photo

The reverse depicts, within a beaded border, an illustration of the legend of St George as the slayer of the dragon.

St George is on horseback, advancing to right, wearing a helmet and chlamys (cape, or cloak) fastened in front by a fibula, and holding a sword. His left hand clutches the rein of the horse's bridle, and he does not wear armour, other than on his lower legs and feet, with his toes bare. The saint's horse appears to be half attacking, half shrinking from the dragon, which lies wounded by George's spear and in the throes of death. The point of a spear is broken off in the dragon’s side; the shaft lays on the ground behind the horse.

In exergue, the date: 1995.

Below the exergue line at right are the artist's initials B.P. (for Benedetto Pistrucci).

Brilliant Uncirculated coins have the letter U incuse in a raised circle to the left of the date, while Proof FDC coins do not.

Reverse Inscription 1995
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Mintage includes 1,000 Brilliant Uncirculated coins and 718 proofs in the four-coin Gold Sovereign Proof Sets of the year.

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Five Sovereigns 1995: Known varieties
Variety Proof FDC
Images United Kingdom / Five Sovereigns 1995 / Proof FDC - obverse photo United Kingdom / Five Sovereigns 1995 / Proof FDC - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: 718 (included in total)
Notes

Mintage is estimated.

Five Sovereigns 1995: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Royal Mint Mint link
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom Mintage
All (48) coins of type: Five Sovereigns (Decimal)
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Five Sovereigns 1980 (Proof only) 10,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Five Sovereigns 1981 (Proof only) 5,400 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Five Sovereigns 1982 (Proof only) 2,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Five Sovereigns 1984 23,104 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Five Sovereigns 1985 19,756 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1986 7,723 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1987 5,694 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Raphael Maklouf ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1988 3,315 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Raphael Maklouf ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1989 500th Anniversary 10,694 Seated on Throne, by Bernard Sindall ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 1990 2,947 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1991 2,312 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1992 1,962 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1993 1,984 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1994 1,918 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1995 1,718 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1996 1,643 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1997 1,662 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Five Sovereigns 1998 1,614 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 1999 1,961 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2000 1,994 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2001 2,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2002 Golden Jubilee 4,370 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2003 2,862 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2004 2,749 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2005 3,097 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2006 2,481 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2007 2,518 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2008 2,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2009 2,750 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2010 2,461 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2011 1,685 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2012 Diamond Jubilee 1,452 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2013 650 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2014 1,050 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2015 (Fourth Portrait) 1,116 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2015 (Fifth Portrait) 598 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2016 (Fifth Portrait) 996 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2016 90th Birthday Portrait 575 Queen Elizabeth II - Portrait by James Butler ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF
Five Sovereigns 2017 Garter 1,741 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2017 ·
Five Sovereigns 2018 Sapphire Jubilee 1,208 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2019 1,018 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2020 847 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2021 838 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2022 Platinum Jubilee unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2022 Memorial 1,774 King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2023 Coronation (1,710) King Charles III - First Crowned Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2024 (845) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Five Sovereigns 2025 Shield unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF · 2025 ·
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Five Sovereigns 1995: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Coin TypeFive Sovereigns, St George (Decimal)
Issued1995
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait, by Raphael Maklouf
ReverseSt George the Dragon-Slayer
Face Value5 (x Pound)
Total Mintage1,718
CurrentYes
Material0.9167 Gold
DesignerBenedetto Pistrucci
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size36.0200 mm
Mass39.9400 g
OCC IDPNXY-DONZ-CKLJ-OVRB
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Five Sovereigns 1995: Photos
ImageDetails
Five Sovereigns 1995: Photo The 1995 Five Sovereign Piece / thumbnail The 1995 Five Sovereign Piece
Copyright: Royal Mint
Notes: Proof.
Source
Five Sovereigns 1995: Photo The 1995 Five Sovereign Piece / thumbnail The 1995 Five Sovereign Piece
Copyright: Royal Mint
Notes: Proof.
Source
Five Sovereigns 1995: Photo United Kingdom 5 Pounds 1995 Gold / thumbnail United Kingdom 5 Pounds 1995 Gold
Copyright: Vasilakopoulos Numismatics
Notes: Uncirculated version (letter U).
Source
Five Sovereigns 1995: Photo United Kingdom 5 Pounds 1995 Gold / thumbnail United Kingdom 5 Pounds 1995 Gold
Copyright: Vasilakopoulos Numismatics
Source
Five Sovereigns 1995: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Spink, Coins of England and the United KingdomSE3 (was 4251, Proof), SE4 (was 4252, BU)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# 945