Gold bullion Sovereigns are one of the most well known gold coins and are highly sought-after by collectors and investors. The Sovereign was first minted in 1603 but the contemporary gold Sovereign has been minted in Britain from 1817-1917, 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 Sovereign disappeared from circulation during the First World War as citizens were requested to surrender their Sovereigns for the war effort.
The first of the modern Sovereigns hosted a portrait of King George III and the 'St George and the Dragon' design by Benedetto Pistrucci, an Italian engraver who became Chief Medallist at The Royal Mint. This 2009 Sovereign coin hosts a portrait of HM The Queen, Elizabeth II. The current Monarch, HM Queen Elizabeth II, is also the longest reigning of all time, overtaking her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria in 2015. At just twenty-five-years-old, the then Princess Elizabeth was pronounced Queen in 1952 with her Coronation taking place in June 1953.
Buy a 2009 Gold Sovereign
- This pre-owned 2009 gold bullion Sovereign is struck in 22 carat gold, weighs 7.98g and contains 7.32g of fine gold.
- A mintage of 60,292 bullion Sovereign coins were produced at The Royal Mint for the year 2009 (inclusive of collectors' sets).
- This 2009 gold bullion Sovereign is the first not to feature the helmet streamer in the depiction of St George.
- The gold Sovereign is considered to be one of the world's oldest coins still in production and a pinnacle of minting excellence.
The year 2009
Beyond the walls of The Royal Mint, 2009 witnessed; Barack Obama inaugurated as the USA's first black President, the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century in Asia and the Pacific Ocean, paleontologists discovering the oldest remains of a human ancestor ever found, movie 'Avatar' breaking box office records, and the death of 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson. 2008 was a poignant year in history, now immortalised in coinage.
2009 Gold Bullion Sovereign Coin
The Obverse (front, heads) presents Queen Elizabeth II's fourth portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley. Elizabeth II is captured in the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Royal Diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary in 1947. Her Majesty also wore the crown at her 1953 Coronation ceremony.
The Reverse (back, tails) of the 2009 gold bullion Sovereign hosts the signature 'St George and the Dragon' depiction by Benedetto Pistrucci, designed in 1817. St George is armed with a sword on horseback, slaying the dragon. The Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, originally instructed Pistrucci to create the Sovereign design and his image of St George, the Patron Saint of England, and his dragon, over 200 years later has stood the test of time. 2009 marks the year in which the streamer behind St George's helmet in the design has been removed permanently, and the reverse dies have been re-engraved using 'original Victorian tools'.
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, a role Her Majesty has held since her accession to the throne in 1952.
The 2009 gold bullion Sovereign coin may be supplied in an acrylic capsule.
The Legend of St George and the Dragon
An ancient legend with a number of fabled stories associated with him, St George's legacy dates back to the 3rd century. His story arose from the tale of Roman soldier who refused to give up his Christian faith. The most well-known tale sees St George as a heroic rescuer on horseback sent to rescue a young maiden or princess sacrificed to a dragon, which he slays to save her life. It is widely believed that the dragon 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 has been celebrated on the 23rd April every year.
The Reverse depicts 'St George and his dragon', in the classic design by Benedetto Pistrucci. The Obverse design of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II is the fourth portrait design, by Ian Rank-Broadley.
The 2009 Sovereign coin was created at The Royal Mint. The Mint, based at Llantrisant in Wales, is the official home of British coinage. Its former home for over 500 years was the Tower of London, where the surrounding area became known as Mint Street. With a 1,000 year history and producing currency for over 60 countries, it is considered one of the world's leading Mints.
With the introduction of decimalisation in 1971, all The Royal Mint's coin production was moved to a new headquarters in Wales. A gold Sovereign was the last coin struck in London in November 1975. In 2009, it was recommended that The Royal Mint be privatised. The Mint ended its position as an executive government agency and became a state-owned limited company wholly owned by HM Treasury. Today, the Mint has breathed new life into its Bullion trade and opened a state-of-the-art visitor centre at its home in Wales.
Buy and sell coins with confidence when you use The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.
Buy Collectable Coins Online
We offer a wide range of collectable and investment coins in pre-owned and brand-new condition. As our name suggests, we focus on British coins (from hammered metal-detecting finds to modern Royal Mint issues) with a healthy selection of pieces from international mints too. All the coins we sell are 100% guaranteed authentic and, where relevant, are individually certified.
The Britannia Coin Company is part of the Gold-Traders group, founded in 2008. We're members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity and expertise.
You're guaranteed a fully protected service when you buy online with The Britannia Coin Company. Our payment process is fully encrypted, preventing unauthorised access to your personal and financial details. Check your browser bar for the trusted padlock symbol: it's a mark of security.
Free And Insured UK Shipping
The price of all our coins includes free, fully insured UK shipping.
We post most orders within one to three working days of receipt. Please check individual product pages for accurate delivery estimates.
We deliver internationally. All payments are to be made in Pounds Sterling. We have a flat rate international shipping charge of just £15. See our dedicated delivery page for exceptions and further information.
Sell Your Coins With Confidence
Our experts want to make selling your coins a stress-free experience. They're ready to provide transparent valuations for your old coins: whether that's an individual piece or a large collection.
The team buys thousands of coins every month via our postal valuation service. It's a safe and easy way to sell coins from home with payment via bank transfer available the same day you confirm our price.
If you'd prefer to visit us in person, we've got secure, private meeting rooms in our offices at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AE. We recommend calling ahead to book an appointment or check out one of our specialist drop-in valuation days.
Visit Our Wiltshire Showroom
If you're looking for a bargain then why not visit our showroom? We've got lots of great discount coins available in our cabinets at Old Bank Antiques.
From circulating £2s and 50ps to world coins, commemorative sets and new releases to ancients, we've got something for everyone. Make sure you save time to browse the glass, ceramics, jewellery, clocks and militaria on display in the rest of the shop, located at 143 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AB.
You won't find our full range on display in our showroom but if there is something particular you would like to examine then please do get in touch. We're pleased to arrange a private viewing appointment at a time that suits you.
Contact Our Coin Experts Now
Got questions about buying or selling coins? Our friendly team of numismatists (coin experts) are ready to assist with valuations, offers, postage enquiries, and more.
Call our enquiries line on 01793 205 007 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Drop us a line at coins@britanniacoincompany.com.
Message us using our live chat feature (that's the green button, found at the bottom right of this page).
Visit us at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4 7AB (we recommend checking our location map before you set out).
