Jean Baptiste Merlen Shield Sovereigns

What is a Shield Sovereign?

Shield sovereigns are a cherished design in British coinage history, renowned for the intricate shield on their reverse. The shield sovereign first appeared on the reverse of gold sovereigns in 1825 during the reign of King George IV. Subsequently, the shield was used under the reign of King William IV and later popularised on Queen Victoria’s young head gold sovereign coins minted between 1838 and 1887.

How to Buy Shield Sovereigns?

For those interested in purchasing shield sovereigns, we recommend reading our shield sovereign guide to gain a solid understanding before investing. We stock a wide range of shield gold sovereign coins, ideal for collectors looking to add the historic Royal Arms shield design by Jean Baptiste Merlen to their collection.

Who Engraved the Shield Sovereign?

Jean Baptiste Merlen was a renowned French engraver, initially employed by the Paris Mint before eventually joining The Royal Mint in 1820. He is celebrated for his contributions to numismatics and coin design. William Wyon became Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint in 1828, during Jean Baptiste Merlen's time as assistant engraver.

Merlen is best known for his obverse portrait of George IV, introduced in 1821, which was the first to depict a male monarch without a crown or laureate. He is also remembered for his Royal Arms 'Shield sovereign' design, which first appeared on the George IV sovereigns in 1825.

2025 Proof Sovereign Coins - Return of the Shield Design

The Royal Mint has announced that the 2025 gold proof sovereign range and the 2025 quintuple gold brilliant uncirculated sovereign coin will include a beautifully remastered version of Merlen’s Royal Arms Shield on the reverse, marking the 200th anniversary of this iconic design in a special commemorative release.

This is also the first time in the sovereign series that Merlen’s design is paired with the official coinage portrait of His Majesty King Charles III. Additionally, this will be the final sovereign in the series struck in rose gold. To learn more about the specifications of these highly anticipated coins, explore our 2025 proof sovereign guide, which covers some of The Royal Mint’s most significant innovations to date.

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