2011 Queen Elizabeth II Gold Proof Full Sovereign

We offer to you the 2011 Full Gold Proof Sovereign. A wonderful collector’s piece, The Britannia Coin Company looks at all the elements needed to help you make your decision.

The Fourth Royal Portrait

The engraver behind the fourth portrait of Elizabeth II seen on the obverse of the 2011 Proof Gold Sovereign is Ian Rank-Broadley. In 1997, it was decided to replace the previous effigy after a successful competition for a conjoint portrait for the Queen and Prince Phillip. Rank-Broadley produced the winning design, which was more realistic and less idealised than the previous depiction. Rank-Broadley is quoted saying that there was 'no need to disguise the matureness of the Queen's years. There is no need to flatter her. She is a 70-year-old woman with poise and bearing.'

On the obverse of the coin, around the portrait inscription reads 'ELIZABETH II DEI ∙ GRA ∙ REGINA ∙ FID ∙ DEF∙'. Translated from Latin, this phrase means 'By The Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith'. This phrase acknowledges the Queen’s position as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. She has held this role since her coronation in 1952, and a similar inscription has appeared on her official and commemorative currency since.

Saint George and the Dragon

After the Napoleonic Wars ended, Britain was in need of an overhaul of its currency. This brought about the Great Recoinage of 1816. It was from this that the Sovereign was reintroduced into British currency, and this required a new design to fill the reverse of the coin. The design chosen is still featured to the present day, appearing on the 2011 Proof Gold Sovereign over 200 years later. The design chosen was the Saint George and the Dragon engraving by Benedetto Pistrucci, by far his most celebrated work. This was a welcome change to previous designs. It in turn both acknowledged and respected both the patron saint of Britain, and the current monarch on the throne, George III, who had just achieved great victory at the Battle of Waterloo over the French.

History of the Gold Sovereign

The Gold Sovereign has a history that spans back over 500 years. Although the original Sovereign dates to the reign of Henry VII in 1489, the Sovereign was retired and reintroduced in the Nineteenth Century into the specification that we recognise today. After the gruelling Napoleonic Wars, the currency situation in Britain culminated in the Great Recoinage of 1816. In 1817, the Sovereign was reborn during the reign of George III. The first modern gold sovereign was minted at The Royal Mints' new premises in Tower Hill with their newly acquired steam powered coin press, revolutionising coin production.

7.98 Grams of 22 Carat Gold

The Sovereign today adheres to standards that were introduced when they were reintroduced in 1817. The 2011 Gold Proof Sovereign also meets this rigorous criteria. 

Each Full Gold Sovereign contains copper weight, which is what lends the Sovereign its warm reddish tone.

However the gold weight is a fantastic 7.32 grams or 0.2354 troy ounces of pure gold. This 22 Carat Gold is the equivalent to a purity of 91.6% or a fineness of .917. 

The dimensions also meet strict guidance, with every Gold Sovereign having a diameter of 22.00 millimetres and a thickness of 1.52 millimetres.

Struck to Handsome Proof Standard

Proof coins are the highest quality commemorative coins produced. They represent true skill and expertise, making coins like the 2011 Gold Proof Sovereign truly exceptional examples for collectors everywhere. 

The dies that are used to strike Proof coins are hand finished to ensure perfection. The blanks are fed into the press by hand, before being struck up to six times. Working at a lower speed, and with less pressure than other finishes, this preserves the finer details of the designs. Each Proof die may only strike a few hundred coins before it has to be re-polished. This means that the Royal Mint can only strike about 50 Proof coins per hour. This is an exponentially slower rate of production than that maintained for circulating coins.

Due to the more intensive processes involved, Proof coins are usually issued in limited numbers. This is the case for the 2011 Gold Proof Sovereign, as only 8,209 Proof coins were struck in this year. This is a similar number to the years immediately before and after it. There were bullion coins issued in this year, and the limit issued for each year stands at 250,000.

Collecting and Investing in Sovereigns

Already 10 years since this coin was minted, fewer and fewer 2011 Gold Proof Sovereigns are coming to the market. If you are working to complete a Proof Sovereign collection then it's important to acquire these dates when they become available.

As well as appealing to collectors of commemorative coins, Proof Sovereigns like the 2011 issue are an excellent way to diversify your investment portfolio for several reasons:

• The 22 Carat Gold composition of Gold Sovereigns offers the intrinsic security of precious metal as a way of storing wealth
• Their relatively low weight of 7.98 grams means that prices for Sovereigns are accessible and small portions of your collection can be liquidated much easier than gold bars
• The numismatic value and aesthetic beauty of coins like the 2011 Gold Proof Sovereign can give them a value above the gold price on the collector’s market
• As they are composed of investment grade gold, 2011 Gold Proof Sovereigns are exempt from VAT in the UK and the European Union
• An additional tax benefit: Gold Sovereigns are technically legal tender in the UK, making them exempt from Capital Gains Tax.

Here at The Britannia Coin Company we can't recommend the 2011 Gold Proof Sovereign enough. Secure yours today and get free insured delivery on your order. Any questions? Call or email today and our expert staff will be pleased to assist.