Royal Mint, Queen Elizabeth II Full Sovereign 1st Portrait 1957 First Year of Issue

Description

Mary Gillick’s portrait, also known as 1st portrait of the Queen can be seen on British Sovereigns minted between 1957 and 1968.

The Obverse (front, heads) presents Queen Elizabeth II’s first portrait by Mary Gillick. The 1957 Sovereign is the first Sovereign made available to the general public to feature an effigy of Elizabeth II. The first Portrait of Elizabeth II was issued on British coinage in 1953, the year of Her Majesty’s Coronation. The image hosts a youthful and uncrowned Queen. Gillick competed against 16 artists for the honour of designing the first Portrait of Elizabeth II. Her design stood out for its absence of a crown and The Queen’s ‘approachable’ depiction. As a tribute to Mary Gillick, the design is still struck on Maundy Money today at The Queen’s request.

The Reverse (back, tails) of the 1957 gold bullion Sovereign hosts the signature 1817 ‘St George and the Dragon’ design by Benedetto Pistrucci. 19th century talented Italian engraver Pistrucci was instructed to develop designs for George III’s silver and gold coins by The Master of The Mint. Pistrucci also designed the Waterloo Medal for the British Government, a commission which took the artist 30 years to create.

The coin includes the inscription, ‘DEI GRA REGINA FID DEF’, which translates to ‘By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith’. The inscription refers to HM Queen Elizabeth II’s position as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Elizabeth II has held the role since her accession to the throne in 1952.

Coin comes in plastic flip or paper coin holder.