In 1989 to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the First Gold Sovereign, the Royal Mint released a special range of Limited Issue Tudor Rose Gold Sovereign Coins minted in BU £5 Sovereign Gold, £5 Sovereign Gold Proof, £2 Double Sovereign Gold Proof, Full Sovereign Gold Proof and Half Sovereign Gold Proof Coins. For one year only, designed by Bernard Sindali, are modern adaptions of the original Sovereign design of 1489. The reverse is a Shield of the Royal Arms ensigned by an open Royal Crown, the whole superimposed upon a double rose and the circumscription 'ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLD SOVEREIGN 1489-1989.' The obverse shows Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II seated as at her Coronation, within the circumscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRA REG FID DEF, which may be translated as Elizabeth II - by grace of god, Queen, defender of the faith. |