Introducing The 1957 Elizabeth II Sovereign

1957 Elizabeth II Sovereigns

In 1957, the Royal Mint resumed production of gold sovereigns, partly to meet world demand for gold bullion coins. Not every date exists for gold sovereigns. In fact, gold sovereigns were not issued for circulation after 1932. 

1957 Elizabeth II Sovereign

The only dates minted between 1932 and decimalisation were 1957 to 1959, and then 1962 to 1968. these dates all bear the first portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as used on almost all pre-decimal coins, with the familiar St. George & Dragon design on the reverse.

1957 Elizabeth II Sovereign

1957 Sovereign - Design & Description

All Elizabeth II sovereigns from 1957 to 1968 share the same obverse (head) design, the young first portrait of the queen by Mary Gillick. This youthful bust features the Queen wearing a laureate of laurel leaves tied with ribbons. This coin portrait was used from 1953 to 1967.

The reverse is the familiar St George & Dragon engraving by Benedetto Pistrucci. This was first featured on the modern sovereign in 1817.

The edge of the 1957 sovereign is interesting, there are 169 grains on the milled edge instead of 108 on other Elizabeth II sovereigns. This graining is necessarily much finer. It is quite easy to be able to distinguish a 1957 sovereign from any other date simply by looking at its edge. Our photograph shows the milled edges of two sovereigns, a 1957 sovereign on top of a different date of Elizabeth II sovereign.