The Golden Sovereign 2022 Memorial, United Kingdom – Golden Pound – Charles III
The Ultimate Golden Sovereign
Cut 2022, in 22 carat gold 916.7‰, weight 7.98g, Ø 19.30 mm, Universal Brilliant strike
Marking a new reign, this sovereign is the first to present the official portrait of King Charles III.
the Royal Mint is recognized around the world and has a proud heritage. They are one of the top coin makers in the world and have produced some amazing pieces starting with the Sovereign coins. The Memorial Sovereign bears the coin portrait of the new King Charles III for the first time
Portrait by Martin Jennings
Martin Jennings is best known for his public sculptures which include the poet John Betjeman, at St Pancras Station, London and Philip Larkin in Hull. He used photographs to arrive at the design, rather than the king sitting for a specific portrait. King Charles is very pleased with the end result. After working through the photographs, Martin Jennings modeled his design in plaster which was digitally scaled down to the correct size for a coin: “It’s the smallest work I’ve created, but it’s humbling to know that people are going to see it and hold it throughout the world for centuries to come”
His Majesty had his left profile elegantly designed, in contrast to the Queen’s effigy, which was in her right profile. The tradition of British monarchs facing a different direction than their predecessor dates back to the seventeenth century. While Queen Elizabeth II was shown wearing a crown in four of her five definitive coin portraits, Jennings’ portrait of Charles bears no glittering headgear or other symbols of his royal status.
The reverse side of the coin
In keeping with the gold standard, a commemorative edition of The Sovereign, the Royal Mint’s flagship coin, honors the life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In homage to Her Majesty, Benedetto Pistrucci’s classic Saint George and dragon design is set aside for an intricate reinterpretation of the Royal Arms by Jody Clark. The royal arms speak to national history and identity and include symbolic representations of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The interpretation of the Royal Arms seen on the Memorial Sovereigns is by Jody Clark, best known for the fifth and final definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Clarke’s arms are densely detailed, surrounding the shield and supporters with flowers and national floral emblems.
Gold Sovereigns with special reverse designs always attract special interest from collectors. As these limited edition Memorial coins are also the first to feature King Charles III, they have an added appeal, which is sure to make them sought after for years to come. Commemorative editions – including those in sets – are struck in 22 carat gold (91.67% pure), according to a specification established more than two centuries ago.
