Sovereign 2006, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Sovereign 2006, Coin from United Kingdom
CoinSovereign 2006

The sovereign is a gold coin of the United Kingdom, with a nominal face value of £1 (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 current sovereign is a continuation of the pre-decimal sovereign, and has been issued as a decimal coin since 1974.

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 unknown
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Obverse
United Kingdom / Sovereign 2006 - 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

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: 2006.

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

Reverse Inscription 2006
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Krause lists mintage of 45,542 for the bullion coins plus 16,000 proofs. Spink lists "unknown mintage" for the bullion coins and 9,195 proofs. The Krause figure of 45,542 is probably in error, as it repeats the one for the previous year.

Sovereign 2006: Known varieties
Variety Proof FDC
Mintage Issued: 9,195 (included in total)
Sovereign 2006: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Royal Mint Mintage link Proof mintage
All (56) coins of type: Sovereign (Decimal)
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Sovereign 1974 5,002,566 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1976 4,150,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1978 6,550,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1979 9,150,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1980 5,181,200 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1981 5,032,960 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1982 2,970,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1983 (Proof only) 21,250 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1984 (Proof only) 12,880 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Sovereign 1985 (Proof only) 11,393 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1986 (Proof only) 17,579 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1987 (Proof only) 9,979 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1988 (Proof only) 7,670 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1989 500th Anniversary 23,471 Seated on Throne, by Bernard Sindall ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF ·
Sovereign 1990 (Proof only) 4,767 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1991 (Proof only) 4,713 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1992 (Proof only) 4,772 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1993 (Proof only) 4,349 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1994 (Proof only) 4,998 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1995 (Proof only) 7,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1996 (Proof only) 7,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1997 (Proof only) 7,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA · REG · F · D
Sovereign 1998 (Proof only) 10,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 1999 (Proof only) 11,903 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2000 138,978 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2001 58,377 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2002 Golden Jubilee 87,764 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2003 55,663 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2004 40,863 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2005 Modern St George 58,042 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2006 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2007 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2008 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2009 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2010 252,814 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2011 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2012 Diamond Jubilee 10,060 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2013 10,938 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2014 4,695 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2015 (Fourth Portrait) 5,436 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2015 (Fifth Portrait) unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2016 (Fifth Portrait) 1,251 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2016 90th Birthday Portrait 7,995 Queen Elizabeth II - Portrait by James Butler ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2017 (Bullion) unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2017 Garter 12,691 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2017 ·
Sovereign 2018 Sapphire Jubilee unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2019 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2020 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF
Sovereign 2021 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Sovereign 2022 Platinum Jubilee unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·
Sovereign 2022 Memorial (23,160) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Sovereign 2023 Coronation unknown King Charles III - First Crowned Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Sovereign 2023 King's Birthday 860 King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Sovereign 2024 unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Sovereign 2025, Saint George and Dragon unknown King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF ·
Sovereign 2025 Shield (7,035) King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · FID · DEF · 2025 ·
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Sovereign 2006: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Coin TypeSovereign, St George (Decimal)
Issued2006
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley
ReverseSt George the Dragon-Slayer
Face Value1 (x Pound)
Total Mintageunknown
CurrentYes
Material0.9167 Gold
DesignerBenedetto Pistrucci
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size22.0500 mm
Thickness1.5200 mm
Mass7.9800 g
OCC IDQBVY-XOWR-CJAN-EJZN
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Sovereign 2006: Catalogue Reference IDs