We’d like to look back at the Hattons of London 2023 ranges, as well as sharing a monumental thank you to all of our clients; new and old. Whether you started your coin collection in 2023, or have been adding to it for a while, we thank you for being a valued Hattons of London client.
The 2023 King Charles III Greatest Monarchs Gold Sovereign Range
The year 2023 has proven to be a significant one, after all, Britain had a new monarch for the first time in 70 years. Therefore, the first range to be released this year celebrated some of the greatest ever British monarchs, with each coin featuring His Majesty King Charles III on the obverse, with a great British monarch from the past on the reverse, recording one of their greatest regnal milestones.
The reverse side of the one-eighth sovereign paid tribute to possibly our greatest ever monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who, in 2022, became the first monarch in our history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. This was the first one-eighth sovereign in King Charles III’s reign, and we believe it will retain a special place in the history of his coinage.
The 2023 King Charles III Accession Sovereign Range
Not only did we have a new monarch for the first time in 70 years, but the accession of King Charles III meant that he was our first king since the mid-twentieth century. Therefore, for the first time in over 200 years of gold sovereign history, the accession of a monarch was commemorated by the striking of commemorative gold sovereign coins.
The reverse side of the one-eighth sovereign featured King Charles III’s royal cypher; an interlocking letter C and letter R, for ‘Carolus Rex’ inside which the Roman numerals ‘III’, all surmounted by a crown. This was the first one-eighth sovereign coin to carry the new king’s cypher. On the obverse side is a portrait of the king by artist Jody Clark.
The 2023 King Charles III Coronation Gold Sovereign Range
On 6th May 2023, King Charles III became the first British monarch to be crowned in the 21st century. This was a great moment for Britain, and because of its significance, an exceptional commemorative coin series was announced; with the coronation of a British monarch being marked by the striking of specially designed commemorative gold sovereign coins for the first time in over 200 years of gold sovereign history.
The one-eighth sovereign was the first of its kind to carry the Coronation Emblem, paying tribute to The King’s love of the natural world and to the four countries of the United Kingdom. The design brought together the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the daffodil of Wales and the shamrock of Northern Ireland into the shape of the St Edward’s Crown.
The 2023 King Charles III Coronation Double Portrait Gold Sovereign Range
Some incredibly special sovereign coins were proposed for the coronation of Charles and Camilla, but it was doubted they would be approved. However, we were fortunate enough to announce that for the first time in history, coronation sovereign coins had been minted featuring both the King and Queen. King Charles III is the ninth monarch to have sovereigns bearing his portrait, but never before has a reigning king appeared with his queen; until now.
The one-eighth sovereign featured skilful portraits of King Charles III and Queen Camilla by Jody Clark, designer of the fifth (and final) coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse design featured the official Coronation Emblem. These were also the first sovereigns upon which Queen Camilla had appeared.
The 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Anniversary Gold Sovereign Range
In the same year that we celebrated our new King and his coronation, we also marked the 70th anniversary of his predecessor, and mother, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The crowning of Her Late Majesty’s was the fourth and final coronation of the 20th century, and this ancient ceremony links centuries of royal tradition and reinforces a sense of our shared histories. It is an event that most people only ever see once in their lifetime.
The reverse featured the Queen appearing in a graceful and stately Equestrian Portrait depicted on horseback. This was a direct link with the very first commemorative coin of her reign which was a special crown coin produced for her Coronation in 1953; it too featured an Equestrian Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This meant that this was the first gold one-eighth sovereign ever to feature an Equestrian Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
The 2023 Prince George’s 10th Birthday Gold Sovereign Range
It has been an incredibly significant year in British history: not only have we celebrated the coronation of a new monarch, the first in over seventy years, but we have also celebrated the milestone 10th birthday of HRH Prince George, second in line to the throne and grandson of King Charles III. To celebrate, the first ever ten-sided sovereign coins were produced, this special shape chosen to celebrate Prince George’s 10th birthday.
In honour of Prince George’s saintly namesake, the one-eighth sovereign featured a new rendition of St George slaying the dragon by artist and designer Jody Clark, and it was the first coin of its kind ever to feature this rendition! What’s more, it was also the first one-eighth sovereign coin issued to celebrate a milestone in Prince George’s life.
The 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Gold Sovereign Range
Once the emotions of The Queen’s sad passing had settled and we approached the anniversary of her death, many people were looking for a way to memorialise her incredible reign and remember how we all felt last year, watching the state funeral of a queen loved and admired worldwide. Therefore, a new gold sovereign range was released, honouring a beloved queen on the first anniversary of her passing.
Using a triple-finish Proof minting technique, the designs simulated a ‘row’ of service personnel, to acknowledge the formed rows of service men and women who took part in the impressive Memorial Procession, a key part of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The main design on the quarter sovereign featured Royal Navy seaman: following a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria, around 140 Royal Navy sailors pulled the gun carriage carrying The Queen’s coffin.
The 2023 Lord Nelson Tribute Gold Sovereign Range
Amongst the magnitude of royal events that took place this year we also saw the 225th anniversary of Lord Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile, “the most overwhelming naval victory in the age of sail”. Although there was recognition of this victory at the time, no commemorative coins were produced. However, this year, this historical oversight was corrected with the release of gold sovereign coins, celebrating Britain’s greatest naval commander.
This success led ultimately to the most famous naval engagement of Nelson’s career: the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The design on the one-eighth sovereign featured the fore topgallant masthead of HMS Victory, flying the ‘Ensign of the White’ which was Nelson’s command flag at the Battle of Trafalgar.
The 2023 King Charles III 75th Birthday Gold Sovereign Range
After more than seventy years as heir to the throne, King Charles III had the longest wait in British history. Upon his accession, he became the oldest monarch in British history to inherit the throne, which meant that his 75th birthday was his first milestone birthday celebration of his reign! Therefore, for the first time ever, the birthday of a reigning British king was marked by the striking of commemorative gold sovereign coins.
The one-eighth sovereign featured a portrait of King Charles III, wearing the St Edward’s crown and resplendent in his coronation robes, holding the orb in one hand and the sceptre in another. He is shown in half-length profile, and this depiction echoes that of his predecessor and namesake, King Charles I, who was similarly portrayed on gold coins of his reign which became known as the ‘Carolus’ (the Latin derivation of Charles). This made an intriguing historic connection between British monarchs some four centuries apart.
The 2023 Prince and Princess of Wales Gold Sovereign Range
In our modern era, the title ‘Prince of Wales’ is no longer a title of authority but one of ceremony, and although there was no formal investiture event, the fact that William is now the 23rd Prince of Wales deserves to be recognised. His wife Catherine, or ‘Kate’ as she is often known, is now the Princess of Wales, the first to use that title since William’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The one-eighth sovereign features both the new Prince, and Princess of Wales. Catherine is only the second Princess of Wales in history to be celebrated on a gold sovereign coin, the first being William’s mother, Diana, some years ago.
Thank you to all Hattons of London Clients
As mentioned, we would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our clients, and wish every single one of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
If you’d like to hear more about our ranges of new strike and heritage coins, our team of sovereign specialists look forward to hearing from you in the new year when they return on 2nd January!