2007 Gold Full Sovereign Elizabeth II Proof

The coin has a issue of 8,199. A maximum mintage of 10,000 proof full sovereigns were produced, this figure includes the gold sovereigns used in sets. The proof sovereign comes beautifully presented in a box, and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

The 2007 proof and uncirculated sovereigns were minted using new dies which had been produced using modern computer technology combined with traditional engraving skills.

Obverse

The obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This is the fourth definitive coin portrait to be used. The coin bears the legend:

ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRA REGINA·FID·DEF.

Reverse

The reverse of the coin shows the St George and the Dragon engraving by Benedetto Pistrucci. This has featured on most sovereigns since 1817, with only a few breaks. During this long period, there have been a considerable number of minor changes to the dies used for the reverse. For 2007, the reverse design was completely re-engraved with no advance announcement of this from the Royal Mint.

The certificate reads:

'For the 2007 Sovereign the Royal Mint is using the latest technology, coupled with traditional engraving skills, to recapture the fineness of Pistrucci's early St. George and the dragon from the period of the Neo-Classical revival during the 19th century.

An original hand-engraved design, modified by Pistrucci himself for the Crown Piece of 1818, was scanned into the computer and a large- scale copy was cut in plaster. Elements of the detail were then worked in by hand to ensure that, as far as possible, a faithful rendering of the design was achieved.

The tooling was produced to the required dimensions of the Sovereign and at this size the engravers again completed the finishing touches by hand.

Through this process the intricate details and contours of the composition have been restored so that the sovereign now stands as a sculptured from in a way that Pistrucci himself would have advised.

The 2007 Sovereigns are indeed a tribute to the great masterpiece. Their owners will be taken back almost two centuries to see Pistrucci's St. George and the dragon sovereigns in all their neo-Classical glory.'

Changes

As far as the obverse is concerned, there appears to be no re-engraving, although there is a considerable loss of definition compared with a 2000 sovereign which we used for comparison. The substantial re-engraving appears to to confined to the reverse side.

Both sides show many signs of hurried, or sub-standard production, with scuffs, radiating striations possibly caused through under-annealing of the blank planchets before striking.

Almost all parts of the reverse design are different, leading us to conclude that the entire reverse design has been re-engraved. Because of this, it will be almost impossible for us to create a complete catalogue of differences, but we attempt to list the most obvious ones here:-

• Lower relief, noticeable or apparent in the centre.
• Longer, re-engraved tail.
• Longer trailing helmet plumes.
• More distinct, possibly cruder, helmet crest.
• Completely different folds in cloak.
• Smaller right hand, with more defined fingers, gap between sword hilt.
• Different mane to horse.
• Bigger gap between St George and the horse's neck.
• Thinner gap between horse's neck and reins.
• Different end to broken lance (to left of ground).
• Completely different ground.
• Smaller BP initials.
• Dragon's wings differ.
• Dragon's nose, mouth, crest, and claws altered.
• George's garter is redefined.
• Horse's musclature has been substantially changed, as has George's.
• The border has been changed, and now looks more like a railway line, as opposed to convex toothed beads. (The obverse border does not match).
• The exergue appears to be taller, as do the date numerals.
• There is a smaller gap between the border and the main parts of the design.

Specification