1997 Gold Proof Full Sovereign Elizabeth II Coin
Limited edition proof Sovereign, struck at The Royal Mint in 1997: a key addition to any collection. The obverse shows a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II, by Raphael Maklouf, as used between 1985 and 1997. This effigy would be replaced the following year on British coinage with a new depiction by Ian Rank-Broadley. Maklouf’s portrait is paired with a much older design to the reverse. The work of Italian artist, Benedetto Pistrucci, it shows England’s patron saint - St George - mounted on horseback in the act of slaying a dragon which is crushed beneath his steed’s hooves. Pistrucci’s initials appear below the engraving, next to the date. Like all ‘full’ Sovereigns, this one is made from 7.98 grams of 22 carat gold. It features a milled edge and has a diameter of 22.05 millimetres. This example has a proof finish, achieved with multiple strikes of hand-prepared dies. The Royal Mint only offers a limited number of proof Sovereigns each year: the figure in 1997 was 9,177, not including those in sets. The small number issued makes them more sought after than their bullion counterparts, minted in larger numbers. That and their attractive appearance. This 1997 proof Sovereign comes in its original leather presentation box from The Royal Mint, sealed in its capsule. Enclosed with it is a numbered certificate of authenticity, confirming the specifications of this piece. System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String] System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String]