1996 Gold 4-Coin Sovereign Proof Set

The 1996 Gold 4-Coin Sovereign Proof Set consists of:

• 1996 Gold Five-Pound (Quintuple Sovereign)
• 1996 Gold Double Sovereign (Gold Two-Pound)
• 1996 Gold Sovereign
• 1996 Gold Half-Sovereign

Benedetto Pistrucci's famous portrayal of St. George slaying the dragon is depicted on each of the reverses. The set includes a gold plated medallion showing a crowned ‘Elizabeth R’ with the date ‘1996’. The reverse depicts a Rat, the Chinese new year animal for 1996.


Queen Elizabeth II's fourth portrait can be seen on the obverse of all four coins, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley

The four coins are all made of solid 22 carat gold (Gold fineness of 0.916), and are housed in their original Royal Mint acrylic screw top capsules. The coins are presented in their Royal Mint green leatherette presentation case, accompanied with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity.

Only 742 1996 4-coin gold proof sovereign set were issued by the Royal Mint.

Coin Weights

• Five Pounds: 39.94g
• Two Pounds: 15.98g
• Sovereign: 7.98g
• Half Sovereign: 3.99g

The first modern 4 coin gold proof sovereign set was issued by the Royal Mint in 1980. Each set contains just over 2 ounces of pure gold, and are popular with coin collectors and bullion investors alike. A set was issued in 1980, 1982, 1985, and every year from 1989 to 2008 (The 5 coin sovereign set was introduced from 2009).