2010 Full Gold Bullion Sovereign

Gold bullion Sovereigns are one of the most well known gold coins and are highly sought-after by numismatists and investors. The Sovereign was first minted in 1603 but the contemporary gold Sovereign has been minted in Britain since 1817, and again from 1817-1917, 1925, 1957–59, 1962–68, 1974, 1976, 1978–82 and 2000 to date. 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, although colonial Mints continued to produce the Sovereign until 1932. 

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 2010 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 2010 Gold Sovereign 

• This pre-owned 2010 gold bullion Sovereign is struck in 22 carat gold, weighs 7.98g and contains 7.32g of fine gold.
• A mintage of 243,158 bullion Sovereign coins were produced at The Royal Mint for the year 2010 (inclusive of collectors' sets). 
• 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 2010

2010 was characterised by; the devastating Haiti and Chile earthquakes, the BP oil spill, the election of British Prime Minister David Cameron, the UK economy officially leaving the 2008 recession behind, flights plagued by a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull eruption, and cricket’s Sachin Tendulkar achieving a record-breaking double century. Meanwhile, 7.9m people tuned in to watch Downton Abbey for the first time. The world also watched as 33 men were rescued after being trapped underground for 69 days in the Chilean mining accident. The year 2010 was a poignant year in history, now immortalised in coinage.  

2010 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 Royal Diamond crown from her coronation. 

The Reverse (back, tails) of the 2010 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, was used for other gold coins too. 

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 2010 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.