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).
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.
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).
