Description
The gold sovereign has a prestigious reputation around the globe. You may be aware that this reputation was established in the reign of Queen Victoria when the sovereign was the “chief coin of the world’, being legal tender in over 30 different nations and territories, and accepted in dozens more.
However, did you know that one of the reasons it established this global reputation is because it was minted not just in Britain, but also by branches of Britain’s mint that were set up in Australia, Canada, South Africa and India? This gave the gold sovereign global reach – minted to the same exacting standards of purity and weight in a number of locations throughout the Empire – it meant that gold flowed through the veins of the British Empire and through trade, on to the rest of the world.
However, only a handful of countries and colonies in the Empire produced sovereigns. New Zealand, for example, didn’t.
That is, until now. The New Zealand Treasury has taken the exceptional decision to produce a half and gold sovereign coin in honour of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria.
Why would this anniversary lead to New Zealand taking this extraordinary step? Queen Victoria is the first monarch of New Zealand, it being established as a colony in 1840 when British sovereignty was proclaimed. Finally, New Zealand can join the list of important Empire and Commonwealth nations that have gold sovereigns carrying their names. These coins are available now from Hattons of London.
We anticipate considerable demand for this half and sovereign set: they are the first gold sovereigns in history from this nation!
New Zealand’s first sovereigns honour its first monarch, Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 and went on to become one of the most celebrated monarchs in history, with an empire that covered a quarter of the globe at its height. The islands of New Zealand became a Crown colony in 1840 following the Treaty of Waitangi, making Queen Victoria the first monarch of New Zealand.
Now, New Zealand’s first ever sovereign coin has been released to honour the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth. It features an effigy of the bun portrait of Queen Victoria. The half sovereign features an effigy of the crowned young portrait of Queen Victoria.
Gold sovereigns from New Zealand – a world first!
In the 1860s, at the time of New Zealand’s biggest gold strike, no mint existed in the country. Neighbouring Australia, however, had a mint in Sydney and so New Zealand’s raw gold was shipped there to be made into coins for international trade.
Now, for the very first time, New Zealand is issuing its own gold sovereigns. These coins are a world first and is certain to be subject to considerable demand – not just from coin collectors, but from all those who want these world-first sovereign coins! However, the mintage has been restricted to just 2,999 coins for the sovereign and 2,019 for the half sovereign. Authorised by New Zealand, and approved by both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Buckingham Palace, it is a wonderful celebration – and a world first one at that.
Comes in a luxury presentation box with space to put your 2019 New Zealand’s First Ever Gold Quarter Sovereign along side the half sovereign and sovereign.