| Coin | Quarter Sovereign 2018 Sapphire Jubilee |
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The sovereign is a gold coin of the United Kingdom with a nominal value of one pound sterling, so a quarter sovereign is denominated as having £0.25 (twenty-five 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 quarter is the most recent addition to the range, having been issued only since 2009. Their designs 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.
This edition celebrates Sapphire Jubilee (65 years since the coronation) of Queen Elizabeth II.
The coins were issued in Proof FDC grade only. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait").
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously 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.
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| Reverse | |
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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: 2018.
Below the exergue line at right are the artist's initials B.P. (for Benedetto Pistrucci).
A small privy mark in the left field of the exergue has the shape of a crown, within which is embedded the number 65. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | 1,321 individual coins, plus coins in sets. |
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| Included in Set |
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The Sovereign 2018 Five-Coin Gold Proof Set, mintage 749, limited to 750
5 coins: Five Sovereigns, Double Sovereign, Full Sovereign, Half Sovereign, Quarter Sovereign
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The Sovereign 2018 Four-Coin Gold Proof Set, mintage 299
5 coins: Double Sovereign, Full Sovereign, Half Sovereign, Quarter Sovereign
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The Sovereign 2018 Three-Coin Gold Proof Set, mintage 986, limited to 1,000
3 coins: Full Sovereign, Half Sovereign, Quarter Sovereign
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