2000 Gold Full Sovereign Elizabeth II Bullion Coin

First Bullion Sovereign Since 1982

After an 18-year hiatus, the year 2000 marked the return of the gold Sovereign as a standard bullion coin. Between 1983 and 1999, Sovereigns were only issued in limited proof formats for collectors, with no investment-grade Sovereigns produced.

This changed in 2000, when The Royal Mint resumed production of bullion Sovereigns for global investors, responding to growing demand for trusted, liquid physical gold. The 2000 issue revived the Sovereign's role as a practical investment coin, combining its traditional weight, purity, and tax benefits with renewed availability.

These pre-owned coins were struck for investment, not circulation, and may show minor marks typical of handling and storage. However, each contains the same precise gold content and remains highly sought-after by bullion buyers.

Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II

The obverse of the 2000 Sovereign features the fourth coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, introduced in 1998 and created by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.

Rank-Broadley's effigy shows the Queen wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara and is regarded as a mature and realistic portrayal. It was intended to reflect the dignity and continuity of her reign in the new millennium. The artist's initials - 'IRB' - appear below the truncation of the neck, with the Latin inscription: 'ELIZABETH ∙ II ∙ DEI ∙ GRA ∙ REGINA ∙ FID ∙ DEF ∙', meaning 'Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith'.

Saint George And The Dragon

The reverse design is the iconic Saint George and the dragon, engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci and used on millions of Sovereigns since 1817.

England's patron saint is shown wearing a flowing cape and mounted on a horse, sword raised as he defeats a dragon coiled beneath him. This timeless motif remains one of the most admired in British numismatics and has become closely associated with the Sovereign series.

The date (2000) appears below the ground line with Pistrucci's 'B.P.' initials to the right of this.

2000 Sovereign Mintage Figures

The Royal Mint struck 129,069 bullion Sovereigns in the year 2000.

This is a remarkably low mintage when compared to the bullion Sovereigns of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were released in issues that averaged around 5,000,000.

After an 18-year pause in bullion production, this limited release marked the return of the Sovereign as a practical gold investment coin. A separate and much smaller mintage of proof Sovereigns was also issued, intended solely for collectors.

The 2000 Sovereign Range

The range of coins available in the gold Sovereign family exploded in the year 2000, with The Royal Mint issuing the following:

• 2000 bullion Sovereign
• 2000 bullion Sovereign in card
• 2000 proof Sovereign (supplied in a box with a COA)
• 2000 bullion Half Sovereign
• 2000 bullion Half Sovereign in card
• 2000 proof Half Sovereign
• 2000 brilliant uncirculated Five Sovereign

Two different types of gold proof Sovereign set were also released:

• 2000 three-coin Sovereign set (with Half Sovereign, 'full' Sovereign, and Double Sovereign)
• 2000 four-coin Sovereign set (as above with the addition of a gold Five Sovereign)

The Double Sovereign and the proof Five Sovereign were only available in proof sets.

All versions featured the same Ian Rank-Broadley obverse and classic Benedetto Pistrucci reverse.

Collecting 2000 Millennium Sovereigns

Gold Sovereigns offer one of the most efficient and trusted ways to invest in physical gold. The Sovereign's historic design, global recognition, and reliable 22-carat composition make it a foundation of many precious metal portfolios.

The year 2000 holds symbolic appeal as the final Sovereign of the 20th century and the last dated coin of the second millennium. Its release signalled a return to regular annual bullion Sovereign issues and helped re-establish The Royal Mint's position in the global gold market.

While not especially rare, collectors often choose this coin for building date runs or commemorating the millennium in gold. With its combination of classic design, consistent specifications, and commemorative date, the 2000 Sovereign sits at the intersection of bullion and collectability.