200 years of the Sovereign – Britain’s flagship coin

In 2017, we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern sovereign – a coin renowned for its impeccable quality and craftsmanship.

The ‘Great Recoinage’ was the British government’s attempt to re-stabilise the currency of Great Britain following economic difficulties caused by both the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. On the 22nd June 1816, the Coinage Act was passed and was given Royal Assent. 

Not only were silver coins reintroduced into circulation, the Gold Sovereign returned to become the symbol of Britishness across the Empire.

As we approach the 200th anniversary, we take a look at some of the key Sovereign designs through the years…

The designs that have appeared on Sovereigns throughout the years are all of significant importance but since the first ‘modern’ Sovereign 200 years ago, Benedetto Pistrucci’s St George and the dragon has become synonymous with the Sovereign, the gold coin that set new standards for accuracy that defined a currency.

Click here to download a pdf version of the Change Checker Sovereign graphic.

Own your own piece of numismatic history

Today you can reserve the brand new 2017 Bicentenary Gold Proof Sovereign