Description
The 1979 Sovereign, available in both bullion and proof versions, holds historical significance as the first annual proof Sovereign issued by The Royal Mint. The coin features Arnold Machin’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and the iconic Saint George and the Dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci on the reverse. According to The Britannia Coin Company, the 1979 Sovereign is the inaugural coin in a series of annual proof Sovereigns released by The Royal Mint. Due to its historical importance and high-quality proof finish, the 1979 Sovereign is highly sought after by collectors.
This Sovereign has a weight of 7.98 grams and is made from 22-carat gold, which is 91.67% pure gold. The 1979 gold bullion Sovereign marked its first appearance in the bullion market as a commemorative coin, and it still retains legal tender status. Prior to 1979, it was a trade coin that circulated intermittently from 1914 to that year.
The 1979 Full Sovereign is graded PF69, indicating it is an exceptional coin that has been slabbed and graded by a numismatic grading service. This grade suggests that the Sovereign is nearly flawless and possesses significant visual appeal.lawless and possesses significant visual appeal.lawless and possesses significant visual appeal.