2004 Gold Full Sovereign Elizabeth II Bullion Coin

Buy a high-grade uncirculated Royal Mint bullion Sovereign from 2004.

The Story Of The Gold Sovereign

The first Sovereigns were stuck in the reign of Tudor King, Henry VII. These large, hammered gold coins do not seem to have been used as currency but were instead given to VIPs as a demonstration of the court's wealth and prestige.

The sparkling legacy of the English Sovereign was revived in 1817 during The Great Recoinage: an effort to restabilise British currency in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. The name was given to a new, 22-carat gold coin, designed to replace the Guinea.

At first, these modern, milled Sovereigns were struck only in London but during the nineteenth-century branches of The Royal Mint were opened across the British Empire, taking advantage of the influx of colonial gold. It was during this period that the Sovereign gained the global reputation it enjoys today as a premier bullion coin. Today, Sovereigns are issued annually in limited numbers for collectors and investors who remain eager to acquire these famous and sought-after British coins.

22-Carat UK Gold Bullion Coins

Since they were first introduced, modern Sovereigns have been struck to an exacting specification. While the designs featured on these coins have changed over the years, they have been consistently struck in 7.98 grams of 22-carat (91.67% pure) gold on a 22.05 millimetre blank with a 1.52-millimetre milled edge. The remaining metal is copper, which provides strength and a distinctive rosy tone.

2004 Sovereigns have a pure gold content of 7.31 grams or 0.2354 troy ounces.

Today these coins are produced by The Royal Mint with various different finishes. While proof Sovereigns are the preserve of the collector, bullion Sovereigns are designed for investors. The Mint has high standards for all their coinage which is publically tested on an annual basis at the Trial of the Pyx: a historic judicial ceremony where coins like Sovereigns are assayed to ensure they meet the required dimensional and fineness specifications.

St George Reverse By Benedetto Pistrucci

Bullion Sovereigns dated 2004 feature a historic St George reverse design, instantly recognisable to anyone with even a passing interest in British gold coins.

It's the work of an Italian artist named Benedetto Pistrucci. Born in Rome in 1783, Pistrucci trained as a gem engraver, moving to Britain after the Battle of Waterloo. He quickly garnered an excellent reputation which brought him to the attention of William Wellesley-Pole, the Master of the Royal Mint. Wellesley-Pole hired Pistrucci to create models for the new coinage, including a reverse for the new Sovereign, first struck in 1817.

The design shows England's patron saint in the act of slaying a dragon from his position on a rearing horse. It's a neoclassic interpretation of the central legend associated with St George and is highly regarded by collectors. The date appears below.

Fourth Definitive Portrait Of The Queen

Five different portraits of Queen Elizabeth II appeared on Sovereigns during her long reign. Those issued in her coronation year showed Mary Gillick's youthful first portrait with later editions showing effigies by Arnold Machin and Raphael Maklouf.

The fourth royal portrait was introduced in 1998. It's the work of British sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley whose design was chosen via a private competition held in 1997. His definitive profile shows Her Majesty in her 70s, her regal appearance complemented by Queen Mary's Girls Of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. Filling the surface of the coin, Rank-Broadley's portrait is surrounded by a legend that reads 'ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRA REGINA · FID · DEF' with the artist's initials ('IRB') seen below the portrait.

In 2015, Rank-Broadley's coin portrait was replaced by a new engraving by Jody Clark, first issued as Elizabeth II became our longest reigning monarch, and used up until her passing in 2022. These 2004 Sovereigns capture a moment in a remarkable reign, celebrated with a classic design by one of the UK's leading artists.

Are 2004 Sovereigns A Good Way To Buy Gold?

There are lots of good reasons to invest in British bullion Sovereigns:

• VAT Free: Gold Sovereigns are composed of investment-grade, 22-carat gold which means they can be sold without VAT in the UK and the EU
• Capital Gains Tax Exempt: 2004 Sovereigns have a face value of £1 and as UK legal tender they're exempt from CGT meaning you save when you come to sell
• Global Reputation: Gold buyers and coin dealers will instantly recognise the value of a gold 'full' Sovereign making it simple to cash these coins in
• Modest Size: Weighing in at just 7.98 grams, these coins are smaller and more affordable than one-ounce gold bullion coins making them cheaper per unit
• Highly Collectible: Sovereigns are regarded as some of the most beautiful coins in the world and since they've been struck for more than 200 years, collecting them all can be an appealing challenge

Additionally, just 30,688 bullion 'full' Sovereigns were struck in 2004, their limited-edition status meaning they command a premium above other gold coins.

Buy A 2004 Bullion Full Sovereign

We carefully examine and authenticate every gold Sovereign we sell. We do this first to ensure they're authentic. Fake gold Sovereigns are common but they're easy to identify if you've got our decades of experience and our high-end testing equipment. Our professional team can guarantee you a genuine coin.

We also check each of our 2004 Sovereigns to ensure they meet our minimum grade: About Extremely Fine (AEF). These uncirculated coins show very minimal evidence of wear or handling and make perfect gifts.

You might also be interested in proof Sovereigns from the same year. We offer 2004 proof Sovereigns in their original Royal Mint presentation boxes, together with numbered certificates of authenticity. They make a great gift and are considerably rarer than their bullion counterparts.

Just looking to invest in UK gold coins and not worried about the year? We recommend our best value 'full' Sovereigns, available at a market-leading price.