Estimated UK Delivery
£7.00
Stock status
In Stock
Product ID
281
1989 Gold Full Sovereign Elizabeth II Proof
Struck in 22 carat gold, this British coin marks the 500th anniversary of the sovereign and was designed by Bernard Sindall.
If this coin is not in stock we may have the wooden box presentation version available here. We keep a waiting list for this coin, if you would like to be added please click the "email me when back in stock" or "add to wishlist" buttons.
The 1989 gold sovereign is only available in a proof finish. No uncirculated version of this sovereign was issued. Bernard Sindall designed the reverse and obverse of this coin to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the first gold sovereign for Henry VII in 1489. The original sovereigns were intended to be used as a symbol of Britain's importance and wealth, to impress the rest of Europe.
See our 1989 Sovereign Collection.
Please note the colour of the presentation box may vary.
** If you have one to sell please contact us! **
More Info
Terms & Delivery
More Info
Terms & Delivery
1989 Sovereign Mintage and Issue Limits
| Item | Issue Limit | Mintage |
| Individual Sovereign | 12,500 | 10,535 |
| Sovereigns in 3 Coin Sets | 10,000 | 7,936 |
| Sovereigns in 4 Coin Sets | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Total | 27,500 | 23,471 |
500th Anniversary of the Gold Sovereign
When these sovereigns were originally issued in 1989, they were not universally popular, and the Royal Mint failed to sell out of its entire issue limit. We believe this was because the coin was different, and many people expect and want the familiar St. George and Dragon design.
We can remember having a scuffed specimen in stock for years at one stage, and could not sell it, even to go into jewellery, which is where it had been when we bought it. After a few years, we scrapped it.
There is no doubt in our mind that the average (non-sovereign collector) person liked the St George design.
Since then, demand for the 1989 has grown, and prices are now sky high compared with the original price, which, from memory, was about £175.
Also, the Mint have made one-off design sovereigns in 2002, 2012, and 2017, all of which have been popular. These special issues may have contributed to the increased interest in the 1989.
Clearly there are difference of opinion between proof sovereign buyers; some want the familiar St George design, others prefer the special one-off designs. People buying as gifts tend to want the old familiar design, numismatic collectors tend to prefer the new different ones.
It is likely that the Royal Mint will continue to use the definitive St George design in most years, but will probably use any excuse to slip in something different, such as “struck-on-the day”, piedforts, and other gimmicks to stimulate interest.
Obverse
The obverse features a representation of the Queen at her coronation. She is seated facing on a throne and is holding the Sceptre with the Cross and the Rod with the Dove. The legend reads:
ELIZABETH.II.DEI.GRA.REG.FID.DEF.
Reverse
The reverse of the 1989 Elizabeth II gold sovereign mirrors its 500 year old original counterpart. The Royal Arms shield is surmounted by the royal crown, both of these images are superimposed upon a double Tudor rose. The inscription reads:
1489-1989 ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLD SOVEREIGN.
Both the reverse and the obverse designs were created by the sculptor, Bernard Sindall.
Specification
| Metal | Gold |
| Weight / Size | Full |
| Gold Weight Troy Ounces | 0.235 |
| Fineness / Carat | 0.917 / 22 |
| Date | 1989 |
| Obverse Designer | Bernard Sindall |
| Reverse Designer | Bernard Sindall |
| Issuing Monarch | Elizabeth II (1952-2022) |
| Mint / Brand | The Royal Mint |
| Country | United Kingdom |
2024 Christmas Opening Hours and Despatch Dates
General
- Tuesday 24th December 2024 - Phone lines 9:30 - 14:00 (Last showroom appointment 12:00pm - Collections Only).
- Wednesday 25th December 2024 - Wednesday 1st January 2025 - Closed (Urgent enquiries will still be answered during this time).
- Thursday 2nd January 2025 - Normal Business Hours.
- All orders placed between Friday 20th December 2024 and Wednesday 1st January 2025 will be despatched between 2nd - 5th January 2025.
Hatton Garden
- Closed 20th December 2024 - 5th January 2025 inclusive.
Christmas Despatch 2024
- Last despatch date for UKSTANDARD orders in time for Christmas – Monday 16th December.
- Last despatch date for UKSPECIAL orders over £5,000 in time for Christmas – Thursday 19th December.
- Last despatch date for UKSPECIAL orders below £5,000 in time for Christmas & UKSTANDARDS orders not in time for Christmas – Friday 20th December.
Internationals
- Last despatch date for international orders in time for Christmas – Monday 2nd December.
- Last despatch date for all internationals – Monday 16th December.
Distance Buy-Ins
- Distance Buy Ins (DBI) – Last despatch date for DBI packaging – Packaging shipped out Monday 16th to arrive with customer Tuesday 17th to be collected by DPD Wednesday 18th to arrive with us Thursday 19th.
New Year
- First despatch date in the New Year – Thursday 2nd January 2025.
Delivery Information
We aim to dispatch orders within 48 hours of receiving cleared funds. Our standard delivery methods are as follows.
Orders over £60 - Fully Insured Delivery.
- Within the UK and BFPO - Next day fully insured and tracked. Delivery starts from £6.
Orders under £60
- Within the UK and BFPO - Royal Mail 2nd Class. Your order will normally arrive within 2-3 working days. Delivery starts from £3.50.
If you wish to have your order sent by an alternative method (e.g., Saturday Guaranteed) please contact +441253343081 for more information. Please note, we will not dispatch high value orders over a bank holiday weekend.
For international delivery, please check with your local customs office for more information on custom duty and taxes.
Full delivery information can be found by clicking here.
Postal Insurance
We offer fully insured delivery on all special delivery options. We do need to pass on the cost of this insurance as it soon adds up shipping high value gold and silver products.
- Orders under £1500 there is no additional fee.
- Orders over £1500 we charge a fee in order to cover the increasing costs of insurance. For every £1500 we apply a £1 fee.
If you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to call the showroom on +441253343081 and one of our team can discuss your purchase.
Terms of Sale - Key Points
You can find more information on payment and identification requirements.
Bullion coins are provided as is and on occasion may have some minor scratches or edge knocks. These are not regarded as faulty or damaged goods as their precious metal content and value as a bullion coin is not affected. Any coin sold for a value less than a 180% intrinsic is considered a bullion coin.
Gold investment products are VAT free. Silver investment products are inclusive of VAT at the current rate unless otherwise stated.
All investment products are based on the live precious metal price. Prices will be fixed once the item has been added to the basket and recalculates just before checking out.
If your product is not a graded coin and is considered a bullion item, it should be noted that these are bought and sold on low premiums over their precious metal content and not solely for aesthetic purposes; therefore, some products may have edge knocks and/or marks. These edge knocks and marks do not alter the specifications of the coins.
Please note that all investment products are exempt from the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and therefore customers do not have the right to cancel their order once the order has been accepted. If customers no longer wish to go ahead with their investment purchase, there is an option to sell the products back to Chard (1964) Ltd instead. View our current buy back prices.
View our full Terms & Conditions.
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