There was some speculation last year about The Royal Mint’s ultra-iconic coin, The Sovereign, making the move from 22kt gold (0.9167 fineness) to 0.9999 fineness, which appeared to create some debate and consternation. The Royal Mint even issued a statement denying the change, and that was the end of it. However, in 2026, the 500th anniversary since Henry VIII took time out from lopping heads off to instruct its creation, changes are afoot.

The Sovereign was brought back to the fore in 1817, sporting the now iconic St George artwork of Benedetto Pistrucci, and continued to be struck in 22kt gold, with the metal alloyed with a varying mix of copper and silver, although silver was gradually replaced almost entirely by copper as the years progressed. Red gold gets its hue from the copper, while yellow gold is either purer, or alloyed with silver instead, and the modern Sovereign has carried that reddish tinge for decades. For 2026, it appears the copper is gone, and even though it remains at 0.9167 fineness, the yellow colour is now the hue of choice.

The design of the proof range remains essentially unchanged apart from that, but the bullion coin has had its security enhanced. Already one of the most secure coins in the world, with its weight guaranteed to five decimal places, the reverse face now has a border of micro-engraved text around its rim. The obverse has a background pattern, and a latent image, both of which you can see in one of the images below. Whether the change to yellow gold is trotted out to the mints many other gold coins remains to be seen.

With gold sales on a high, we’d expect these to fly off the shelves given their significance. Our understanding is that these will be available to purchase on the Royal Mint website later today, so keep your eye out, and please use the banner link below, so we get a small, and much-needed sweetener at no cost to you. Thank you.