1966 Gold Bullion Full Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II Coin
Gold bullion Sovereigns are possibly the most famous of all gold coins, highly sought-after by collectors and investors. Often referred to as 'The Chief Coin of the World' owing to the Sovereign's international trading in the 19th and 20th centuries. The modern gold Sovereign has been minted in Britain since 1817 until 1917, and in 1925, 1957–59, 1962–68, 1974, 1976, 1978–82 and 2000 to the present day. Modern gold bullion Sovereign production was paused after 1982 up until the year 2000, although Proof versions were still issued.
The first of the modern Sovereigns hosted a portrait of King George III and the 'St George and the Dragon' design by Benedetto Pistrucci. Pistrucci was an Italian engraver who became Chief Medallist at The Royal Mint. This 1966 Sovereign coin hosts a portrait of the longest reigning British monarch of all time, HM The Queen, Elizabeth II.
Buy a 1966 Gold Sovereign
- This pre-owned 1966 gold bullion Sovereign is struck in 22 carat gold, weighs 7.98g and contains 7.32g of fine gold.
- A mintage of 7,050,000 bullion coins were produced at The Royal Mint for the year 1966.
- The gold Sovereign is considered to be one of the world's oldest coins still in production and a pinnacle of minting excellence.
- The perfect gift to mark an Emerald Wedding Anniversary (55 years of marriage) or a special occasion such as a birthday or wedding date.
The year 1966
The year 1966 witnessed; England win the World Cup, Indira Gandhi become Prime Minister of India and Harold Wilson elected British Prime Minister, McLaren form an F1 racing team, pop singer Lulu perform behind Berlin's 'Iron Curtain', The Beatles play their final concert, the Moors murderers sentenced to life imprisonment, Christian Evangelist Rev. Billy Graham (close friend of Queen Elizabeth II) take his 'crusades' to London's Earls Court, the first televised opening of Parliament, the government announce plans for a new decimal currency, the new Action Man toy release, Longleat Safari Park open in the UK, and Barclays Bank introduce Britain's first credit card. 1966 was a significant year in history, now immortalised in coinage.
The 1966 Gold Bullion Sovereign Coin
The Obverse (front, heads) presents Queen Elizabeth II's first portrait by Mary Gillick. The first Portrait of Elizabeth II was issued on British coinage in 1953, the year of Her Majesty's Coronation. The image hosts a youthful uncrowned Queen, which is still used on Maundy Money today, a royal tradition dating back to the Bible. An alumna of The Royal College of Art, Mary Gillick met husband Ernest Gillick while studying at the institution and the duo worked together for 46 years. Gillick competed against 16 artists for the honour of designing the first Portrait of Elizabeth II. Her design stood out for its absence of a crown and The Queen's 'approachable' depiction.
The Reverse (back, tails) of the 1966 gold bullion Sovereign hosts the signature 1817 'St George and the Dragon' design by Benedetto Pistrucci. In the 19th century, talented Italian engraver Pistrucci was instructed to develop designs for George III's silver and gold coins by William Wellesley-Pole, The Master of The Mint and the Waterloo Medal for the British Government, a commission which took the artist 30 years to create.
The coin includes the inscription, 'DEI GRA REGINA FID DEF', which translates to 'By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith'. The inscription refers to HM Queen Elizabeth II's position as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Elizabeth II has held the role since her accession to the throne in 1952.
No Proof version of the 1966 gold Sovereign was issued. This 1966 bullion coin may be supplied in an acrylic capsule.
The Legend of St George and the Dragon
St George's legacy dates back to the 3rd century, often depicted as a heroic defender of the Christian faith. The most widely shared story recounts St George as a rescuer on horseback sent to slay a dragon in order to save a young maiden or princess. It is widely believed that the dragon in the mythical tale was slain at Uffington's Dragon Hill, a Bronze-age site just 20 miles from our premises in Royal Wootton Bassett. As the Patron Saint of England, St George celebrated in the country on the 23rd April every year since 1222.
The Reverse of this 1966 Sovereign depicts 'St George and his dragon', in the classic design by Benedetto Pistrucci. The Obverse design of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II is the first portrait design, by Mary Gillick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on the current gold price, we will pay a minimum of £0.00 for a 1966 Sovereign. This is on the basis that it's in reasonably good condition and hasn't been mounted in jewellery.
This price fluctuates in-line with the live gold price and you may be reading an old snapshot of this page. Our up-to-date buy rate is shown when you click the 'Sell to Us' button, towards the top of this page.
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