

Elizabeth II
The Sovereign of Elizabeth II was originally produced from 1956 to 1968. It would also be the last gold sovereign produced before the decimalization of the British currency in 1968. The obverse features a bust of Elizabeth II bearing a laurel wreath designed by Mary Gillick.
As one would expect, the reverse of the coin displays Pistrucci’s famous St. George slaying the Dragon design, a hallmark of British sovereign design. From 1998, sovereigns baring Elizabeth’s bust would use an ‘old head’ design which, shows a more elderly Elizabeth on the reverse. A specific example is the 2018 sovereign, with an old head bust designed by Jody Clark of the Royal Mint. Clark’s initials appear at the base of Elizabeth’s bust.
Date
Mint
Date | Head type | Mint | Scarcity | Reference | Gilchrist | Photos |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-953L.E1P1 | 31600? | ![]() |
1957 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-957L.E1C1 | 31700? | ![]() ![]() |
1958 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-958L.E1C1 | 31800? | ![]() ![]() |
1959 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-959L.E1C1 | 31900? | ![]() ![]() |
1962 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-962L.E1C1 | 32000? | ![]() ![]() |
1963 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-963L.E1C1 | 32100? | ![]() ![]() |
1964 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-964L.E1C1 | 32200? | ![]() ![]() |
1965 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-965L.E1C1 | 32300? | ![]() ![]() |
1966 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-966L.E1C1 | 32400? | ![]() ![]() |
1967 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-967L.E1C1 | 32500? | ![]() ![]() |
1968 | First Bust | London | TBC | G-968L.E1C1 | 32600? | ![]() ![]() |
1974 | Second Bust | London | TBC | G-974L.E2C1 | 32700? | ![]() ![]() |
1976 | Second Bust | London | TBC | G-976L.E2C1 | 32800? | ![]() ![]() |
1976 | Second Bust | London | TBC | G-976L.E2P1 | 32801? | ![]() ![]() |
1978 | Second Bust | London | TBC | G-978L.E2C1 | 32900? | ![]() ![]() |