A Celebratory Sovereign Set for a Historic Coinage Anniversary

In 1989 significant social change was afoot and history was being made. The Berlin Wall was finally torn down and in the Far East, Chinese pro-democracy protestors clashed with security forces in Tiananmen Square. At The Royal Mint, we reflected on the past as we celebrated 500 years of our flagship coin, The Sovereign.

This original four-coin Sovereign set from 1989 contains The Five-Sovereign, The Double-Sovereign, The Sovereign and The Half-Sovereign. The original Sovereign of 1489 inspired the reverse, which features the Royal Arms at the centre of a double Tudor rose – an unusual departure from the St George and the dragon design. The obverse features a portrait of Her Majesty The Queen seated on a throne, designed by sculptor Bernard Sindall.