Gold coin Memorial Sovereign Charles III 2022

Marking a new reign, this sovereign is the first to feature King Charles III’s official coinage portrait.

The Royal Mint brand is recognised around the world and has a proud heritage. It is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of coins and has produced some amazing pieces starting with the Sovereign coins.

The memorial sovereign bears the coinage portrait of the new King Charles III for the first time and let us tell you more about it.

A portrait by Martin Jennings

Martin Jennings is best known for his public sculptures which include the poet John Betjeman, in St Pancras Station in London, and Philip Larkin in Hull. He used photographs to come up with the design, rather than the King sitting for a specific portrait. King Charles is said to be very pleased with the end result. After working from the photographs, Martin Jennings then modelled his design in plaster which was digitally reduce to the correct size for a coin: “It is the smallest work I have created, but it is humbling to know it will be seen and held by people around the world for centuries to come”

His Majesty had his left-profile bust elegantly designed, unlike the Queen’s effigy, which used to be of her right-profile. The tradition for British monarchs to face a different direction to their predecessor dates back to the seventeenth century. While Queen Elizabeth II was shown wearing a crown in four of her five definitive coinage portraits, Jennings' portrait of Charles sports no glittering headgear or other symbols of his royal status.

Everything has been done here to give Charles a more accessible look.

The reverse of the coin

Struck to bullion standard, a memorial edition of The Sovereign, The Royal Mint’s flagship coin, honours the life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In tribute to Her Majesty, Benedetto Pistrucci’s classic St George and the dragon design stands aside for an intricate reinterpretation of the Royal Arms by Jody Clark.

The royal arms speak to national history and identity and include symbolic representations of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The interpretation of the royal arms seen on Memorial Sovereigns is the work of Jody Clark, best known for his fifth and final definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Clark's arms are dense with detail, surrounding the shield and supporters with flourishes and national flower emblems.

Gold Sovereigns with special reverse designs always attract particular interest from collectors. As these limited edition Memorial coins are also the first to feature King Charles III they have an additional appeal, sure to make them sought after in years to come. Memorial editions - including those in sets - are struck in 22-carat (91.67% pure) gold, following a specification established more than two centuries ago.

Purchase your copy today on Coininvest and make sure you own a piece of British History!