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Heads - Portraits on the Obverse of British Sovereigns

Author: Lawrence Chard - Chairman and CEO

Published: 16 Feb 2018

Last Updated: 24 Dec 2022

Synopsis

The obverse is the main side of the coin on which the head usually appears. It is commonly called the "head" side, and vulgarly called the "front" side. The opposite side is known as the reverse or tail side. We will attempt to describe and picture the obverses of all the different gold sovereigns.

1489 - Henry VII

The gold sovereign coin derives its name from the majestic portrait of the monarch or sovereign on the very first sovereigns, which were issued for Henry VII.
Our picture shows a sovereign of Elizabeth I, until we can find a Henry VII coin to replace it.

1489 - Henry VII

1509 - Henry VIII

Sovereigns were then struck for Henry VIII from 1509.

1509 - Henry VIII

1550 - Edward VI

Under Edward VI, his first sovereigns were only in 22 carat gold. From 1550 to 1553, "fine" sovereigns were once again issued with a value of thirty shillings, and also a "standard" sovereign at twenty shillings.

Mary

During the sole reign of Mary, "fine" sovereigns were struck with a value of thirty shillings (30/- or 30s.), but during her slightly longer joint reign with Philip, no sovereigns were issued.

Elizabeth I

During the long reign of Elizabeth I, "fine" gold sovereigns, with a very high (99.4%) gold content, continued to be issued with a value of thirty shillings.

Elizabeth I

1603 - James I -The Unite Appears

In the first coinage of James I, from 1603 to 1604, sovereigns of twenty shillings were issued before being discontinued, the previous pound coin was made lighter and renamed as a "unite". So after 115 years, this was the last sovereign to be issued until the emergence of the modern gold sovereign in 1817.

1603 - James I -The Unite Appears

Charles I - Unite

We have shown a triple unite or 60 shilling piece of 1643. We were tempted to show it without the king's head in an attempt to add some humour to the subject, but decided against it.

Charles I - Unite

Oliver Cromwell - The Broad

The gold broad of Oliver Cromwell was a twenty shilling coin, and so was the equivalent of a sovereign, however as Cromwell had temporarily removed the sovereign king of England, these coins also had to be renamed.

Oliver Cromwell - The Broad

1817 -  George III

The modern sovereign was introduced in 1817 as part of a major recoinage under George III. Benedetto Pistrucci engraved the new portrait of King George, as well as the famous St. George & Dragon reverse which is still used on gold sovereigns even today.

1817 -  George III

1821 - George IV

There were two different portraits used on gold sovereigns of George IV. We show here the laureate head used from 1821 to 1825. A bare head was used from 1825 to 1830.

1821 - George IV

1825 - George IV

A bare head was used on sovereigns of George IV from 1825 to 1830.

1825 - George IV

1831 - William IV

William IV reigned from 1830 to 1837, and William IV sovereigns were issued from 1831 to 1837 except for 1834.
There were two slightly different obverse designs, both featured the bare head of William facing right, the most noticeable difference being in the shape of the ear, and the positioning relative to the lettering.

1831 - William IV

1838 - Victoria Shield Reverse

The first portrait for Queen Victoria was the "Young Head", which was used on sovereigns from 1838 to 1887 inclusive. It was refined and modified a number of times during this period. We intend to feature all the different varieties in good time. Here we show the first date of the first type 1838, which has the date below the bust.

1838 - Victoria Shield Reverse

1871 - Victoria Young Head With Saint George Reverse

In 1871, a major modification was made, and a "Type 2" young head sovereign was introduced. The most obvious difference was the change of reverse from a shield to Pistrucci's famous Saint George & Dragon reverse. The main difference on the obverse was the removal of the date, which was relocated to the reverse side. When mint-marks were introduced for the branch mints, the mint-mark was placed under the head, as on our photograph of an 1884 Sydney mint sovereign. This type was issued until 1887 inclusive.

1871 - Victoria Young Head With Saint George Reverse

1887 - Victoria Jubilee Head

The second major portrait of Queen Victoria used gold sovereigns was the "Jubilee Head", which was introduced in 1887, and continued until 1893 inclusive.

1887 - Victoria Jubilee Head

1893 - Victoria Old Head

The third and final portrait used on the gold sovereigns of Queen Victoria was the "Old Head", also known as the veiled or widow head. It was used from 1893 to 1901 inclusive.

1893 - Victoria Old Head

1902 - Edward VII

Only one portrait was used on the sovereigns of Edward VII, from 1902 to 1910 inclusive. The engraving of his hair is in fairly low relief, and tends to very quickly show signs of wear.

1902 - Edward VII

1911 George V - First Type (Large Head)

The first portrait of George V was used from 1911 to 1928 inclusive. It could also be called the "Large Head".

1911 George V - First Type (Large Head)

1929 - George V - Second Type (Smaller Head)

In 1929, the portrait on George V sovereigns was changed to the second or "Small Head" type. This was only used on the four dates issued from 1929 to 1932.
We show larger images of these two different obverses on our George V Obverses page.

1929 - George V - Second Type (Smaller Head)

1937 - George VI

The only sovereigns issued for George VI were in the Proof or Specimen sets issued for his Coronation year of 1937.

1937 - George VI

1957 - Elizabeth II - First Portrait

Sovereigns were reintroduced in 1957 using the First Portrait, although the same portrait had also been used for other denominations in 1953 with different wording. This first type was issued until 1968. The coins of 1957 have a finer grained milled edge.The Italians call these "Fiocchi" referring to the ribbons in the Queen's hair.

1957 - Elizabeth II - First Portrait

1968 - Elizabeth II - Second (Decimal) Portrait 

The Second or Decimal Portrait was introduced from 1968 on the 10 and 5 new pence coins, but not on sovereigns of that date.
Second portrait sovereigns were issued in most years from 1974 to 1984.

1968 - Elizabeth II - Second (Decimal) Portrait

1985 - Elizabeth II - Third Portrait 

The Third Portrait was used from 1985 to 1997 inclusive, except 1989. No ordinary bullion circulation type sovereigns were issued in this period, so that only proof versions are available with this portrait.

1985 - Elizabeth II - Third Portrait

1989 - Elizabeth II - Sovereign Portrait

In 1989, a special portrait was used on the gold sovereigns, and also the other gold sovereign multiples and fractions of that year. This was to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the issue of the first gold sovereign in 1489 for Henry VII. It shows Her Majesty facing, seated and enthroned, in a reproduction of the style used 500 years previously.

1989 - Elizabeth II - Sovereign Portrait

1989 - Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait

A Fourth, more mature portrait was introduced in 1998.

1989 - Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait

2015 - Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait

A Fifth portrait was introduced in 2015. We naturally hope it will continue in use for many years to come.

2015 - Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait

QEII Detailed Portrait Information

Click here for more information about Queen Elizabeth II Portraits.

Tails

A photographic review of the reverse designs on gold sovereigns - click here to read the "Tails" article

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