It was in 1489 when England’s first Tudor Monarch, King Henry VII ordered a ‘new money of gold’ that would serve to symbolise the might of his impressive dynasty. That large gold coin was known as The Sovereign, and it has since evolved to become one of the world’s most distinctive and recognisable coins. More than 500 years since its inception, the ‘chief coin of the world’ still shares a close relationship with the British Crown and has become a flagship coin for both the United Kingdom and The Royal Mint. The sovereign coin was reintroduced in 1817 as part of Britain’s Great coinage act the year previously. Since then, it has been minted almost every year either as a standard monetary circulating coin until 1933 and thereafter as a bullion related coin from 1958 until 1968. In 1974, the first gold sovereign coins carrying the Machin portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II were minted after decimalisation which occurred three years before. Thereafter, BU and or proof sovereign coins have been eagerly collected as both investments and numismatic items.

The 2025 Sovereign commemorative coin range will features two classic Sovereign reverse designs. Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic St George and the dragon introduced onto British coinage in 1817, and Jean Baptiste Merlen’s re-mastered Royal Arms which celebrates the 200th anniversary since its first appearance in 1825 as part of the coinage of King George IV. The crest illustrates the arms of the British royal family and the Hanover dynasty since the reign of King George I began in 1714. An additional inscription surrounding the crest reads ARMA GEORGII IV BRITANNIARUM REGIS.

The 2025 Collection will be the last opportunity for collectors and investors to own Sovereign coins minted in rose coloured gold. From 2026, all Sovereigns struck by The Royal Mint will be produced using traditional yellow gold that returns this standard to its 500-year-old roots.

For the first time in the Sovereign’s history, a silver Sovereign will be produced. The new addition to the collection will have the same diameter and weight to its gold counterpart and produced from .999 Fine Silver. The silver Sovereign reverse also features Benedetto Pistrucci’s St George and the Dragon design, with one version featuring a special privy mark in tribute to the 1825 Royal Arms 200^th anniversary.

The obverse of each coin option features the effigy of HM King Charles III designed by Martin Jennings. The year 2025 is included in the legend surrounding the King’s likeness on the new range of sovereign coins depicting the royal crest. 

Each sovereign option is available as a separate purchase or as part of a five, four or three-coin set. A separate Five-pound proof gold Piece and the Piedfort proof gold Sovereign is also available to collectors as separate items. Each gold option is presented in polished, gloss hardwood custom cases and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. The silver proof sovereigns are encapsulated and presented in a black gloss custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity.

The 2025-dated double sovereign, sovereign, ½ and ¼ sovereign coins depicting St George and the dragon are also available as select quality bullion strikes. For additional information on the entire 2025-dated Sovereign range, please visit the webshop of the Royal Mint.