In just a few weeks’ time, King Charles III becomes the first British monarch to be crowned in the 21st century. Not since Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 have people lived through such an historic event, and many will not do so again. For years to come, people will ask: “Where were you when the King was crowned?”.
This is a great moment for Britain, and because of its significance, an exceptional commemorative coin series has just been announced: for the first time in over 200 years of gold sovereign history, the coronation of a British monarch is being marked by the striking of specially designed commemorative gold sovereign coins! Introducing the 2023 King Charles III Coronation Gold Sovereign Range, and in particular, the one-eighth sovereign…
King Charles III is the ninth monarch to have sovereigns bearing his portrait – but crucially, he is the very first to have specially designed sovereigns to commemorate his coronation. Since 1817 and the reign of King George III, only the familiar St George design has ever been used on sovereigns that appeared in the coronation years of former monarchs. For the crowning of King Charles III, however, an entirely new design, the ‘Coronation Emblem’, will feature on these new commemorative gold coins.
The Coronation Emblem pays tribute to the King’s love of the natural world and to the four countries of the United Kingdom. The design brings 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. These are the first sovereign coins to carry the Coronation Emblem.
The era of the modern sovereign began in the year 1817 and since that time, a number of monarchs have had sovereigns minted in the same year as their coronations, but none of them have featured a design specially created to commemorate the coronation itself. This is probably related to the sheer number of things to do upon the accession of a new monarch, especially in the lead-up to their coronation. However, our new monarch, King Charles III, is the first of a new century – and his coronation is the first in an era when, thanks to modern technology, more is possible. This is why he is the first British monarch ever to have a series of gold sovereigns that feature a design specially created to commemorate his coronation. This is truly an historic moment, being celebrated by an historic first.
Featuring a portrait of our new King, designed by Jody Clark, with the official Coronation Emblem on the reverse, this is the first gold one-eighth sovereign ever to feature a special design to commemorate the crowning of a British monarch. Secure yours HERE.