1994 Gold Proof Sovereign 4-Coin Set

The 1994 gold proof four coin sovereign collection contains the the gold sovereign and half sovereign, along with the two pound coin, often called a double sovereign, and a five pound gold coin. The gold plated medallion included in this set has the design of a dog in 1994. 

See the rest of the 1994 Sovereign Collection.

Two Pound Coins

The 1994 gold set is a set with a difference. It includes the special Bank of England commemorative £2 coin, instead of the more usual St. George and Dragon design.

In 1994, nickel-brass two pound coins were issued, probably as part of a half-hearted consumer test to see public reaction to £2 coins. Special collector's versions were also issued in silver and gold. The gold sets of 1986 had also contained the Commonwealth Games design of £2, but the 1989 sets used their own exclusive Sovereign 500th Anniversary rather than the two different English and Scottish versions to commemorate the tercentenary of the Bill of Rights and the Claim of Right.

Issue Limits

The issue quantity was less than a sixth of the 1985 issue. The issue limit placed on the 1994 set was 1,250 and only 918 were issued. There were 5,849 of the 1985 sets issued.

In 1990, the four coin gold proof set packaging was re-designed, and changed to a red leather box, and for the first time, a gold-plated medallion was including, with a crowned "Elizabeth R" above the date. The medallion included in the 1994 sets has a dog on the reverse to mark the Chinese lunar year of the dog.

The 1994 gold proof set features the third portrait of the Queen, as used from 1985 to 1997 inclusive on most British coins. This portrait was created by Raphael Maklouf and the coins feature the legend:

ELIZABETH II DEI·GRA·REG·F·D.

Benedetto Pistrucci first designed the engraving of St George and the dragon in 1817. It is featured on the reverse of the half sovereign, sovereign and £5 coin in this set with the £2 coin featuring a design by Leslie Durbin to commemorate the tercentenary of the Bank of England.