2021 Gold Proof Full Sovereign Elizabeth II Coin

Limited edition gold proof 2021 Sovereign in original packaging.

Gold Proof Sovereigns

The first Sovereigns were struck during the reign of Tudor king Henry VII. Centuries later, a new gold coin bearing this name was introduced, following a major overhaul of British coinage. This Sovereign, first minted in 1817, established specifications that are still strictly followed today.

All Sovereigns weight exactly 7.98 grams and are composed of 22 carat gold. That’s a gold weight of 7.32 grams or .2354 troy ounces. Sovereigns measure 22.05 millimetres in diameter and have a nominal face value of one pound sterling though their gold content means they are worth far more.

Sovereigns once circulated across the globe but production ceased with the outbreak of the First World War. Reintroduced in 1957, annual issues attract investors and collectors with limited edition proof Sovereigns - hand-finished for a flawless effect - the most sought-after.

95th Birthday Privy Mark

For much of its history the modern Sovereign has featured an iconic reverse design, crafted by Italian artist Benedetto Pistrucci. His instantly-recognisable Saint George and the Dragon design shows England's patron saint mounted on a horse, slaying a dragon underfoot.

In 2021 this design was given a subtle addition: a special crown privy mark next to the date to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's 95th birthday. The UK's longest reigning monarch marked this record-breaking birthday on 21 April. The tiny privy mark appears to the left of the year, opposite Pistrucci's initials.

For the 2021 Sovereign, Pistrucci's historic reverse is paired with Jody Clark's portrait of our long lived monarch. Introduced to British coinage in 2015, this fifth official effigy shows the artists initials below the traction of Elizabeth II's neck with the legend reading: 'ELIZABETH II ∙ DEI ∙ GRA ∙ REGINA ∙FID ∙DEF'.

Collectible Proof Coin

Your 2021 gold proof Sovereign comes in it is original presentation case from The Royal Mint. The original capsule protects the fine finish of this coin, achieved with multiple strikes of hand-prepared dies. Intended for collectors, proof coins are issued in limited numbers for collectors.

Just 7,995 2021 proof Sovereigns were issued by The Royal Mint (not including those in sets).

Like all Sovereigns, this one is exempt from Capital Gains Tax as UK legal tender and free from VAT as investment grade gold. 

We also stock bullion 2021 Sovereigns (without the privy mark), 2021 proof Half Sovereigns and three and five coin proof sets.