Description

The British gold sovereign was produced between 1908 and1919 at the Ottawa facility and was one of the world?s most famous gold coin of the modern era, and the flagship coin of the Royal Mint.

Commemorate our past with a 99.99% pure gold tribute to the 1919 British gold sovereign coin. With the commemorative dates ?1919-2019?, the reverse design is nearly identical to the last issued sovereign that was struck 100 years ago, including the same ?C? mint mark that proudly denotes the country of production.

KEY SPECIAL FEATURES

A special 100th anniversary celebration: A magnificent tribute to the last issued gold sovereign coin ever by the Royal Canadian Mint (then the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint): the 1919 British gold sovereign coin.

A pure gold tribute. Crafted from 99.99% pure gold, the coin?s reverse is a masterful recreation of the world-renowned gold coin.

Commemorative dates. Below the reverse design, the 100th anniversary is commemorated with the dates 1919 to 2019 in a font style similar to the original design.

SPECIAL FEATURES

An enhanced finish: Unlike the specimen finish of the 1919 British sovereigns, this pure gold piece features a proof finish that naturally highlights the intricate nature of this classic design.

A slightly smaller canvas: The 20 mm diameter is smaller than the original coin?s 22.05 mm diameter.

A piece for history enthusiasts: This tribute to the original ?1919 sovereign represents a piece of our history, and world numismatic history too. It is an ideal addition to any history-themed collection.

DID YOU KNOW?

The gold sovereign was key to the creation of a Canadian mint. The Klondike gold rush in 1896 led to renewed calls for the creation of a Dominion mint that could profitably convert Canadian-mined metals into coins. Fears of a low demand for Canadian coins and an idle mint prompted the suggestion that British sovereigns?a gold coin that was a widely accepted form of payment?could also be produced domestically. To do so, Canada?s mint would have to be established as a branch of the Royal Mint. Thus, on January 2, 1908, the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint officially opened.

It led to the addition of a refinery that, today, produces some of the world?s purest gold coins. Original plans for our Ottawa facility didn?t include a refinery, since it was assumed that bullion would be purchased from private refiners. But no domestic refinery was capable of refining gold to exacting coinage standards; instead, this new addition was completed in 1911.

The sovereign was primarily used for exporting funds and redeeming banknotes. Canada produced a small number of sovereigns between 1908 and 1919, with none issued in 1912 and 1915 and peak production in 1911 (256,946).

DESIGN

The reverse features Benedetto Pistrucci?s neoclassical-style design for the British gold Sovereign, as it appeared on coins struck by the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint in 1919. Saint George is shown on horseback, his left hand holding the reins while his right hand holds a sword. A dragon lies wounded at the horse?s feet. Above the amended dates, ?1919-2019?, a ?C? mintmark denotes the country of production (Canada). The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.