Half Sovereign 2004, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Half Sovereign 2004, Coin from United Kingdom
CoinHalf Sovereign 2004

The sovereign is a gold coin of the United Kingdom with a nominal value of one pound sterling, so a half sovereign is denominated as having £0.50 (fifty pence) 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.

The Royal Mint issues several denominations of the Sovereign: Five Sovereigns (Quintuple Sovereign, five pounds gold), Double Sovereign, Full Sovereign, Half Sovereign and Quarter Sovereign; the half sovereign is a continuation of the pre-decimal half sovereign, 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 only distinguished by size and weight, these being exactly in proportion to their face value. Since 1817, the composition has always been 22 carat (91.67%) gold.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 39,370
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Obverse
United Kingdom / Half Sovereign 2004 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coins shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.

In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).

Around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Reverse
United Kingdom / Half Sovereign 2004 - 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: 2004.

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

Reverse Inscription 2004
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

34,924 bullion coins (Brilliant Uncirculated grade) plus 4,446 proofs.

Half Sovereign 2004: Known varieties
Variety Proof FDC
Images United Kingdom / Half Sovereign 2004 / Proof FDC - obverse photo United Kingdom / Half Sovereign 2004 / Proof FDC - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: 4,446 (included in total)
Half Sovereign 2004: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Royal Mint 2017 Mint link
Royal Mint 2017 Mintage link Bullion mintage
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom Mintage Proof mintage
All (50) coins of type: Half Sovereign (Decimal)
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Half Sovereign 1980 (Proof only) 76,700 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Half Sovereign 1982 2,519,090 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Half Sovereign 1983 (Proof only) 19,710 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Half Sovereign 1984 (Proof only) 12,410 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Half Sovereign 1985 (Proof only) 9,951 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1986 (Proof only) 17,075 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1987 (Proof only) 8,187 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1988 (Proof only) 7,074 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1989 500th Anniversary 21,824 Seated on Throne, by Bernard Sindall ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 1990 (Proof only) 4,231 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1991 (Proof only) 3,588 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1992 (Proof only) 3,783 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1993 (Proof only) 2,910 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1994 (Proof only) 5,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1995 (Proof only) 4,900 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1996 (Proof only) 5,730 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1997 (Proof only) 7,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Half Sovereign 1998 (Proof only) 6,147 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 1999 (Proof only) 9,403 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2000 154,280 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2001 99,359 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2002 Golden Jubilee 71,347 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2003 52,686 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2004 39,370 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2005 35,310 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2006 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2007 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2008 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2009 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2010 21,855 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2011 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2012 Diamond Jubilee 4,440 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2013 2,914 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2014 2,039 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2015 (Fourth Portrait) 2,204 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2015 (Fifth Portrait, Proof only) 348 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2016 (Fifth Portrait) 472 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2016 90th Birthday Portrait 1,995 Queen Elizabeth II - Portrait by James Butler ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF
Half Sovereign 2017, Bullion unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2017 Garter 4,690 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2017 ·
Half Sovereign 2018 Sapphire Jubilee 4,344 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2019 (Proof only) 3,626 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2020 (Proof only) 5,738 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2021 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2022 Platinum Jubilee unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2022 Memorial unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2023 Coronation unknown King Charles III - First Crowned Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2024 unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2025, Saint George and Dragon unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Half Sovereign 2025 Shield (3,025) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF · 2025 ·
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Half Sovereign 2004: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Coin TypeHalf Sovereign, St George (Decimal)
Issued2004
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley
ReverseSt George the Dragon-Slayer
Face Value1/2 (x Pound)
Circulation MintageNone
Total Mintage39,370
CurrentYes
Material0.9167 Gold
DesignerBenedetto Pistrucci
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size19.3000 mm
Thickness0.9900 mm
Mass3.9940 g
OCC IDKLBR-PERR-CMXA-EMNY
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Half Sovereign 2004: Photos
ImageDetails
Half Sovereign 2004: Photo 2004 UK Proof Half Sovereign / thumbnail 2004 UK Proof Half Sovereign
Copyright: Royal Mint
Source
Half Sovereign 2004: Photo 2004 UK Proof Half Sovereign / thumbnail 2004 UK Proof Half Sovereign
Copyright: Royal Mint
Source
Half Sovereign 2004: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Spink, Coins of England and the United KingdomSB4 (was 4440)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# 1001