Description
- The yellow gold alloy makes a stunning return for this 2026 Sovereign bullion coin range, replacing the rose tone of recent issues
- Struck in 22-carat gold, 500 years on from the coinage reforms of Henry VIII’s reign, which first introduced the standard alloy to The Sovereign
- Benedetto Pistrucci’s classic depiction of St George slaying the dragon once again graces the coin’s reverse
- The reverse design is laden with micro-text for enhanced security
- In addition to a new secure pattern, a latent image security feature also adorns the obverse, just beneath the official coinage portrait of His Majesty King Charles III.
In 1526, Henry VIII instructed Cardinal Wolsey, the Lord Chancellor, to reform the values of English coins, which marked the introduction of 22 carat gold as The Sovereign’s striking alloy. Half a millennium later, the coin continues to be struck in 22 carat gold – the exacting standard first employed during the reign of one of Britain’s most notorious monarchs.
Following the end of the rose gold era of The Sovereign in 2025, 2026 sees a return to tradition with an exquisite range of yellow gold bullion coins. The Sovereign 2026 bullion coin is also the most secure yet, as both sides have been embellished with unique security features. New micro-text engraving features on the reverse to create the inscription ‘HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE,’ the motto of the Order of the Garter, which reflects the coin’s deep-rooted connection to British chivalric history. A new half-tone pattern now also features on the obverse, along with a latent image that alternates between the Tudor Crown, The King’s chosen royal cypher, and the Tudor Rose, a symbol used by Henry VII, the monarch responsible for introducing The Sovereign.
