1989 Brilliant Uncirculated Gold Five Pounds

Description

To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the gold sovereign, a completely new design was created for the 1989 sovereign series. A design similar to that of the first gold sovereign issued in 1489 was chosen for the 1989 Brilliant Uncirculated Gold Five Pounds Piece.

For the obverse impression, a representation Of Ourself as at Our Coronation, seated in King Edward’s Chair, having received the Sceptre with the Cross and the Rod with the Dove, all within the circumscription ‘ELIZABETH.II.DEI.GRA.REG.FID.DEF’ can be seen.

The reverse depicts a Shield of Our Royal Arms ensigned by an open Royal Crown, the whole superimposed upon a double Rose (Known as the ‘Tudor Rose’), and with the circumscription ‘ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLD SOVEREIGN 1489 – 1989’.

Both the obverse and reverse designs were created by Bernard Sindall.

The coin is made of 22 carat gold (Gold fineness of 0.916), and is housed in its original Royal Mint acrylic screw top capsule. The coin is presented in its Royal Mint wooden case, accompanied with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity.

The 1989 brilliant uncirculated gold five pounds piece has a weight of 39.94 grams, with a diameter of 36.02mm.

Only 2,937 1989 brilliant uncirculated gold five pounds pieces were issued by the Royal Mint in 1989. A small circled ‘U’ below King Edward’s Chair on the obverse means the coin is of BU quality.

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The first gold five pound piece (£5) was issued during the reign of King George III in 1820. It was not issued as a circulation piece, but for the collectors market only. Gold five pounds pieces were also issued in 1826 and 1839 as part of a proof coin set. It wasn’t until 1887 when a gold five pounds piece was issued for circulation purposes.

There are two basic kinds of gold five pounds coin: the gold £5 (quintuple sovereign) type and the gold Crown. They are both made of 22 carat gold, and weigh exactly the same (39.94 grams). The diameter of the gold crown is slightly larger than the £5 piece.

The first Brilliant Uncirculated gold five pounds was issued by the Royal Mint in 1984, and has been issued every year to present.

 

M J Hughes Coins are members of the British Numismatic Trade Association – www.bnta.net. We are coin dealers based in Alton, Hampshire (Where we have a shop location). We are always interested in purchasing any coins that you may have for sale, particularly Royal Mint issues and gold coins. We are happy to make no obligation offers, and purchase from a single coin to an entire gold coin collection. You would be more than welcome to visit our shop, or we are happy to travel to you. Please get in contact with us if you would like to discuss further.