Coin | Quarter Sovereign 2022 Platinum Jubilee |
---|
|
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.
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 (91.7%) gold.
The Royal Mint says about this edition: Made for kings and queens since 1489, and representing the pinnacle of the art of minting, The Sovereign has been renowned throughout history for its strength, reliability and accuracy. In 2022, The Royal Mint unveils a special edition that commemorates a historic royal event - Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Since 1952, The Queen has carried out her royal duties with unwavering grace and dedication, honouring the promise she made in a televised speech where she pledged her ‘heart and devotion’ to the nations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee marks a milestone in a truly remarkable reign and a feat of such eminence deserves special commemoration.
To honour this achievement, which we likely won’t see again for centuries, the 2022 Sovereign features a rare change in reverse design and instead displays an interpretation of the Royal Coat of Arms by the esteemed heraldic artist Timothy Noad, which makes this his third reverse design for The Sovereign. |
|
Obverse | |
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.
|
|
|
Reverse | |
Within a beaded border, the reverse of the coin displays 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 is a statant guardant lion wearing St Edward's Crown, himself on another representation of that crown standing on a knight's helmet.
The dexter (right) supporter is a likewise crowned English lion; the sinister (left), a Scottish unicorn. In the ground below, a thistle, Tudor rose and shamrock are depicted, representing Scotland, England and Ireland respectively.
The motto of English monarchs, DIEU ET MON DROIT (God and my Right), which has descended to the present royal family, is in a ribbon below, while a Garter circlet which surrounds the shield is inscribed with the Order of the Garter's motto, HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE (from old French: Shame on he who thinks evil).
The designer's monogram TN (T over N, for Timothy Noad) is below right, above the ribbon.
Around below, the date of issue 2022. |
|
|
Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
|
Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated). 2022 was the first year when the Quarter Sovereign was issued as a bullion coin too, and not only in proof. Packaging: in a coin capsule. Royal Mint Product code: UKB22QSO
The proof versions were issued and sets only, and were released in November 2021. |
---|
|
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, 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 - $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
|
---|
|