A five-coin gold proof Sovereign set featuring a one-year-only obverse portrait.
James Butler's Birthday Portrait
2016 marked Her Majesty the Queen's 90th birthday and, to celebrate, gold proof Sovereigns minted in this year feature a special obverse. Bullion Sovereigns and other British money struck in 2016 show Jody Clark's effigy of Her Majesty the Queen, introduced the previous year. 2016 proof Sovereigns, however, feature a special portrait, designed by James Butler MBE RA.
A sculptor, known for his towering civic works, Butler has also designed a number of Royal Mint coins, including a 50p commemorating Roger Bannister's four-minute mile. This portrait of Elizabeth II, wearing the State Diadem, isn't his first. He was also responsible for the image of the Queen that appears on her Great Seal, adopted in 2001. Speaking of his effigy, Butler said:
‘I wanted to show a likeness of her, an affectionate image, as this was a celebration rather than a circulating coinage portrait.’
Butler's portrait is accompanied by the traditional image of Saint George and the Dragon. A perennial feature of the Sovereign since its inception, this reverse design is the work of Italian engraver, Benedetto Pistrucci.
Gold Proof Sovereign Set
This five coin set is the largest Sovereign set offered by The Royal Mint in 2016 and features all five coins in the 2016 Sovereign family, including:
- 2016 proof Quintuple Sovereign (Five Pound): the largest piece in the set weighing in at 39.94 grams of 22 carat gold
- 2016 proof Double Sovereign (Two Pound): this coin measures 28.40 millimetres across and contains 0.4708 troy ounces of gold
- 2016 proof 'full' Sovereign: 7.98 grams of 22 carat gold, the equivalent of .917 fineness
- 2016 proof Half Sovereign: half the weight of a ‘full’ Sovereign at 3.99 grams with a 19.30 milimeter diameter
- 2016 proof Quarter Sovereign: the smallest gold coin in the set weighing 1.997 grams with a 13.50 millimetre diameter
All the pieces in this set feature the James Butler portrait, paired with a St George and the Dragon reverse, scaled to the individual coins.
Limited Edition Presentation Set
Only 500 of these five coin Sovereign sets were issued in 2016.
This 2016 five-coin set is offered in pristine condition in its original packaging from The Royal Mint. This is composed of an outer box in maroon cardboard which contains a bespoke wood box. Each coin is individually encapsulated. A numbered certificate of authenticity is included.
All coins in this set are legal tender and are, as such, Capital Gains Tax free. They are also VAT exempt as investment gold.
Also available: a premium three-coin proof set, individual gold proof 2016 Sovereigns and bullion 2016 Sovereigns (these feature Jody Clark’s portrait, rather than the Butler portrait).
Product Summary
Product Code:
20165CoinSov
Monarch:
Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Capital Gains Tax Status:
Exempt
New / Pre-owned:
Pre-owned
Condition:
Proof. Boxed with Certificate of Authenticity.
- Five-coin 2016 Sovereign set
- One of 500 in this presentation
- Includes a Quintuple Sovereign, Double Sovereign, full Sovereign, Half Sovereign and a Quarter Sovereign
- Total of 69.87 grams of 22 carat gold
- All struck to flawless proof standard
- All coins show James Butler's portrait of Elizabeth II
- Specially commissioned for Her Majesty's 90th birthday
- Paired with classic St George and the dragon reverse
- Offered in original packaging with numbered certificate
- VAT and Capital Gains Tax exempt
Steeped in more than 1,100 years of history, The Royal Mint supplies all of the United Kingdom's coinage as well as currency for nations around the world. Renown for craftsmanship and thoughtful design, The Royal Mint also produces commemorative coins, favoured by investors and collectors.
A Millennia of Minting
Founded in the reign of Alfred the Great, around the year 886, The Royal Mint was originally one of several mints which were centralised to London in 1279. For more than 800 years the Mint was based at the Tower of London before moving to Royal Mint Court where it remained until the 1960s.
The Royal Mint has always been on the forefront of economic, technical and artistic innovation. Its skilled craftsmen minted coins that would reach the far corners of the British Empire, establishing the image and reputation of Britain for all whose pockets they ended up in.
In 2010 The Royal Mint became a limited company owned by Her Majesty’s Treasury. In recent years the Mint has struck medals for the 2012 London Olympic Games and opened a visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, in Llantrisant, Wales: the current home of The Royal Mint.
Collecting and Investing
The Royal Mint's commemorative and bullion coins – often minted to mark important national events and anniversaries – are not intended for circulation. They might look like ordinary coins but they are generally worth much more, thanks to their scarcity, finish and composition.
Most commemorative coins produced by The Royal Mint are available in a range of striking standards including Gold Proof, Silver Proof, Brilliant Uncirculated and Bullion. Some are also available in collectors sets. Gold and Silver Proof coins are minted in small numbers, making them rare and desirable.
The Royal Mint's commemorative coins are both VAT-free and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exempt, making them an attractive and valuable investment. Whether you are diversifying your investments or simply appreciate world-class design, commemorative coins from The Royal Mint are a great buy.
The Royal Mint at The Britannia Coin Company
The Britannia Coin Company is proud to stock official commemorative coins from The Royal Mint as well as a wide range of historic Royal Mint coinage. We offer unbeatable value on The Royal Mint coins, backed by our reputation for honesty and integrity, built over more than a decade of trading.
We're The Britannia Coin Company: offering exceptional service and unbeatable value to all who collect and invest in coins. Part of Gold-Traders (UK) Ltd, we've earned a world-class reputation over more than a decade of buying and selling currency from new issues to ancient coins.
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All Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium coins we sell are 100% guaranteed authentic and, where relevant, are individually certified. We're members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity and expertise: just read some of our reviews.
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Our prices include fully insured delivery within the UK. Your purchase is covered from the moment you buy until it's in your hands. Orders are packed with care, tracked every step of the way, and require signature on receipt to ensure a safe delivery experience.
Visit our Showroom
We're based in Royal Wootton Bassett, a historic market town in beautiful Wiltshire. If the name rings a bell it's probably because you remember how the community honoured those soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 'Royal' in the name was granted in 2011 to recognise this.
Our new showroom – opened in 2020 – is located in the heart of Royal Wootton Bassett in a grand, old bank building. Inside you can view our stock, as well as jewellery and collectibles from several local antique dealers. Look out for the Old Bank Antiques sign and come on in.
If you're seeking to inspect a specific item you have seen online, give us a call ahead of your visit on 01793 205 007 so we can make sure it's ready for you to view. If you're collecting an order your payment should have cleared before you arrive and we may ask to see identification.
Get in Touch
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Call our showroom on 01793 205 007.
Drop us a line on coins@britanniacoincompany.com.
Visit us at 143 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 7AB.
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