Double Sovereign

The Double Sovereign can trace its origins all the way back to 1485, at the time of Henry VII. The Sovereign was well established at this time, and thicker, uncirculated versions were created as ‘piedfort’ coins. Remaining out of circulation, these piedfort Sovereigns weighed twice as much as a normal Sovereign, and were intended for presentation purposes only.

The first ‘true’ Double Sovereign was minted in 1820 – shortly after the introduction of the new Sovereign in 1817 – but was a special proof version, and also remained out of circulation. The first Double Sovereign to enter circulation was in 1887, and was minted in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

The Double Sovereign remains in circulation today at the same specifications; 15.98 grams of 22 carat gold, and a diameter of 28.4mm. The Double Sovereign is also known as a £2 coin, and has a face value as such. As a coin that was uncirculated for many years, and minted in limited numbers since, the Double sovereign can often be a rare, collectable coin.