Timeline of the 200 Years of the British Gold Sovereign

The British Sovereign was first imagined in 1489 by King Henry VII, after he instructed officers of his Royal Mint to produce a ‘new money of gold’. Prior to that point, England had enjoyed circulating gold coinage for almost a century and a half, but the new coin, named a Sovereign, was to be the largest coin both in size and value.

Then in 1817, the ‘new sovereign’ made its debut with a newly imagined design featuring St George slaying the dragon. The new design was created by Italian gem engraver Benedetto Pistrucci and was destined to become one of the world’s most loved coin designs.

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Seven Facts You May Not Know About King George III

King George III

King George III, born in 1738, was a member of the Hanover Dynasty, which ruled England for almost two centuries. He became King of Great Britain in 1760, during some of the most turbulent and trying times, including the American Revolutionary War.

In 1788, an illness brought upon him many mental struggles and uncertainties, with Parliament eventually deeming him unfit to rule, and making his son Prince Regent. He lived with this ‘unknown’ disease for several years before his death in 1820.

We’re taking a look back through the reign of George III, and seven facts that you may not know about him and his life as King.

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Commemorative Coins

commemoratives

Commemorative coins are one of the most sought after and collected, due to their significance in history and the personal memories they can hold. Whether it is to commemorate a first, or to celebrate the anniversary of an event in history; either way adding a commemorative coin to your collection is one that you couldn’t go wrong with.

We’re going to take a look at some of the commemorative ranges and sovereigns we have available, looking back at the history behind the event and the significance it holds.

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History of King George III

king crown

Born George William Frederick in London in 1738, King George III was the King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 and King of Hanover from 1814 until his death in 1820. He lived and ruled longer than any other English or British king and this year marks the 200th anniversary since the end of his record-breaking reign.

While George III’s reputation as “the mad king who lost America” prevails, he was a committed and conscientious leader who provided background stability in a thriving Britain undergoing industrialisation. He also oversaw the reform of gold coinage, which was no mean feat, and few people have acknowledged his valuable contribution to numismatics as we know it.

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