Suweren Elżbieta II Gold Coin | 2022

Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 — Memorial Year of the final vintage with the portrait of the queen who died on 8.09.2022

The Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 gold coin is a historic Royal Mint Full Sovereign with a gross mass of 7.98805 g, a gold mass of 7.32238 g, a fineness of 916.7/1000 (Crown Gold 22 carat), a 22.05 mm diameter and a 1 GBP face value as legal tender of the United Kingdom. The 2022 vintage is the final vintage with the Elizabeth II portrait — the queen died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96, ending a 70-year reign. The Sovereign 2022 carries the fifth and final official Elizabeth II portrait by Jody Clark from 2015 (Imperial State Crown). Memorial Year makes the 2022 vintage symbolically significant as the coin closing the Elizabethan era (1952-2022). The coin is VAT-exempt in the EU, holds LBMA accreditation and CGT-free status for UK tax residents.

Technical specification

Why this Sovereign earns a place in your stack

• Memorial Year — final vintage with Elizabeth II portrait: the 2022 vintage is the final year of Sovereign mintage with the Elizabeth II portrait — the queen died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle, and subsequent issues from 2023 already carried the Charles III portrait by Martin Jennings. The Sovereign 2022 closes the 70-year Elizabethan era (1952-2022).
• Fifth and final portrait by Jody Clark (2015): the Sovereign 2022 carries the „Definitive Effigy" portrait by Jody Clark from 2015 — the final official Elizabeth II portrait at age 89 with Imperial State Crown. Clark was the youngest designer of a monarch portrait in Royal Mint history (33 years in 2015).
• Symbolic close of the Elizabethan era (1952-2022): Sovereigns 2022 function in collector trade as commemorative coins — 70 years of Elizabeth II's reign is the longest in British monarchical history (before her, Victoria 64 years 1837-1901). Memorial Year carries significance similar to Victorian vintages from 1901.
• CGT-free for UK tax residents: all British Sovereigns hold Capital Gains Tax exempt status for UK tax residents — Elizabeth II 2022 as 1 GBP legal tender qualifies fully for this tax preference.
• VAT-exempt in the EU as a legal-tender coin: fineness 916.7 above 900, strike after 1800 (2022) and United Kingdom legal-tender status meet all VAT exemption criteria under Polish VAT Act Art. 122 and EU Directive 2006/112/EC Art. 344.

History of Memorial Year — death of Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022

Elizabeth II (1926-2022) died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle (Scotland) at the age of 96 — ending 70 years and 214 days of reign, the longest in British monarchical history (before her, Victoria 63 years and 216 days 1837-1901). The death was announced in the evening communique of Buckingham Palace, and Charles III formally ascended the throne the same day (Coronation Council 10 September, coronation 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey).

Royal Mint continued the Sovereign mintage with the Elizabeth II portrait until the queen's death — the 2022 vintage covers the entire calendar year, although in practice most of the 2022 Sovereigns were struck before September 2022 (annual mint planning). After the queen's death, Royal Mint within a few months prepared the new Charles III portrait by Martin Jennings, which entered coins from the 2023 issue.

The Sovereign 2022 is historically exceptional in the same sense as the Sovereign Victoria 1901 (last year of Victoria) or the Sovereign Edward VII 1910 (last year of Edward VII) — the coin marks the death of the monarch and is a natural keepsake for those experiencing this historical moment. After the concentrated collector demand following September 2022, the market premium of the 2022 vintage reached higher values than for the remaining Mix Years vintages (5-9% over spot for Mix Years vs 8-15% over spot for 2022).

Charles III (born 1948) — eldest son of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip — ascended the throne on 8 September 2022 as a 73-year-old monarch (the oldest debutant in British monarchical history). The first Sovereigns with the Charles III portrait appeared in 2023 — details of subsequent vintages and Half / Full / Double / Quintuple Sovereign issues are described in the Charles III product descriptions available in the GoldInvest24 catalogue.

Royal Mint holds LBMA Good Delivery accreditation since 1750 — the oldest active LBMA status among mints and refineries producing gold bullion. The mint operates from the Llantrisant site (Wales) since 1968 — Sovereigns 2022 are one of the last issues struck during the reign of Elizabeth II in Llantrisant.

Obverse — Elizabeth II by Jody Clark (2015) — final portrait 2015-2022

The obverse of the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 features the fifth and final official queen portrait by Jody Clark from 2015 — Elizabeth II at age 89 with the Imperial State Crown on her head and tiara. The „Definitive Effigy" portrait was designed by Clark on commission from Royal Mint at the age of 33 — the youngest designer of a monarch portrait in Royal Mint history.

Around the portrait are the Latin inscriptions ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF (Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith). The Empress of India title (IND IMP) was removed from coins from 1953 (after Indian independence in 1947). The 2022 strike year is placed below the portrait or on the reverse — vintage variant details may differ between bullion and Proof issues.

Jody Clark (born 1981) — English engraver and designer of the Royal Mint — designed the Elizabeth II portrait 2015 as his first portrait work for the mint at the age of 33. Clark studied at Lincoln College of Art and Design and began collaboration with the Royal Mint immediately after his studies. The Clark portrait was selected through an internal Royal Mint competition in 2014 — Clark won against older and more experienced designers, which makes the 2015 portrait a distinctive work in the history of Royal Mint monarch portraits.

Reverse — St. George slaying the dragon (Pistrucci 1817)

The reverse of the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 features the classic motif of St. George slaying the dragon in the 1817 Benedetto Pistrucci design — the saint nude on horseback in classical sculpture style, lance raised to deliver the fatal strike. Royal Mint continued the classic Pistrucci reverse for the 2022 vintage — without a special Memorial Reverse.

The decision to retain the classic Pistrucci reverse for the 2022 vintage (rather than introducing a special Memorial Reverse) reflects the Royal Mint tradition in which circulation-bullion Sovereigns carry the classic reverse, while occasion variants are reserved for Proof issues and special anniversary strikes. The Sovereign 2022 is therefore an authentic Pistrucci Sovereign, identical in terms of reverse to previous Elizabeth II vintages.

Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855) — chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 to 1855 — also designed the famous Waterloo Medal commemorating the victory over Napoleon. The 1817 St. George motif remains to this day the Sovereign reverse across all vintages from Victoria Young Head to Charles III 2026 — over 200 years of design continuity.

What to check when buying

Inspect the preservation condition of the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 — Crown Gold 22 carat (916.7) is harder than .9999 and less prone to scratching. Most Sovereigns 2022 are delivered in UNC (Uncirculated) conditions due to the fact that they are new coins and did not serve a circulating function — the 2022 mintage went mainly to the bullion and collector market.

The premium on the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 is higher than on Mix Years Sovereigns 1957-2021 — typically 8-15% in the European retail segment, resulting from the Memorial Year status and concentrated collector demand after the queen's death (8.09.2022). The 2022 premium is comparable with historical Sovereigns Victoria Young Head (8-18%) and Edward VII (10-18%).

CGT-free status applies to all British Sovereigns — Elizabeth II 2022 as legal tender of the United Kingdom (1 GBP face value) qualifies for the CGT exemption for UK tax residents. This status distinguishes Sovereigns from neutral bullion coins (Krugerrand, Maple Leaf, Lunar), which are not CGT-free in the UK despite LBMA accreditation.

Check the 2022 vintage variant — in 2022 Royal Mint struck Sovereigns in three main variants: bullion (most common, available at GoldInvest24 as the standard Sovereign 2022), Proof (special collector strike with mirror field) and Memorial Coronation Sovereigns 2023 with Charles III portrait (no longer with Elizabeth II — that is the next vintage). The standard bullion version of Sovereign 2022 is the most popular and has the broadest availability.

Why GoldInvest24

• Manufacturers with LBMA accreditation: in the catalogue you will find coins and bars from mints accredited by the London Bullion Market Association — Royal Mint holds LBMA Good Delivery status since 1750, the oldest active status.
• Full Sovereigns size range: Half Sovereign, Full Sovereign, Double Sovereign and Quintuple Sovereign in one shop — allowing the build of a portfolio diversified by unit value.
• Language versions PL / DE / EN: full technical descriptions and specifications in three languages for convenient handling of the Polish, German and international markets.
• Current precious-metals quotes: spot data for comparing offer prices with current market valuation — check current metals prices before purchase.
• Full metals categories in one shop: access to gold bullion coins, bars, silver, platinum and palladium — all from one customer account.

Comparison of 5 Sovereign types — from George V to Charles III 2026

See the full category of gold bullion coins available at GoldInvest24.

FAQ — common questions about the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022

What is the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 and why is it called Memorial Year?

The Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 is a historic Royal Mint Full Sovereign with 7.32238 g of gold, fineness 916.7 (Crown Gold 22 carat), 22.05 mm diameter and 1 GBP face value. The 2022 vintage is the final year of Sovereign mintage with the Elizabeth II portrait — the queen died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96. Memorial Year means that 2022 is the final vintage with the Elizabeth II portrait — subsequent issues from 2023 already carry the Charles III portrait by Martin Jennings.

What is the technical specification of the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022?

Gross mass 7.98805 g, gold mass 7.32238 g, fineness 916.7/1000 (Crown Gold 22 carat, alloy Au 91.67% + Cu 8.33%), diameter 22.05 mm, thickness approx. 1.52 mm, face value 1 GBP. Obverse: „Definitive Effigy" portrait of Elizabeth II by Jody Clark from 2015 — fifth and final official portrait of the queen. Reverse: St. George slaying the dragon (Pistrucci 1817).

Who is Jody Clark and why is his portrait historic?

Jody Clark (born 1981) — English engraver of the Royal Mint — designed the Elizabeth II portrait in 2015 at the age of 33. He is the youngest designer of a monarch portrait in Royal Mint history. The „Definitive Effigy" portrait won the internal Royal Mint competition in 2014, depicting the queen at age 89 with the Imperial State Crown. The Sovereign 2022 carries this portrait as the final vintage with the Elizabeth II portrait — the historical significance of the portrait is increased by the Memorial Year status.

How does Elizabeth II 2022 differ from Mix Years 1957-2021 and Charles III 2026?

Elizabeth II 2022 — specific final vintage with Elizabeth II portrait (Jody Clark), Memorial Year, premium 8-15% over spot. Elizabeth II Mix Years (1957-2021) — random vintage from 65-year period, 5 possible portraits, lowest premium 5-9% over spot due to high supply. Charles III 2026 (e.g., Double Sovereign) — first issues with the new monarch's portrait by Martin Jennings, premium 5-10% over spot. All have identical Full Sovereign specifications (except Double Sovereign 2x mass).

For whom is the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 a practical choice?

For collectors of Elizabeth II Sovereigns building a portrait set (Gillick, Machin, Maklouf, Rank-Broadley, Clark) with natural completion by 2022 as the final Clark portrait, for those valuing the historical significance of Memorial Year and the 70-year Elizabeth II reign, and for UK tax residents using the CGT-free status. The 2022 premium (8-15%) is higher than Mix Years (5-9%) due to the Memorial Year status.

What is the LBMA, VAT, CGT and IRA status of the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022?

LBMA Good Delivery — YES (Royal Mint holds the status since 1750, the oldest active). VAT in the EU — EXEMPT (legal-tender coin, fineness 916.7 above 900, struck after 1800 — meets the Polish VAT Act Art. 122 and EU Directive 2006/112/EC Art. 344 criteria). CGT-free in the United Kingdom — YES (British legal tender Sovereign). IRA-eligible in the USA — NO.

How do I buy the Sovereign Elizabeth II 2022 at GoldInvest24?

Place an order in our shop with access to the gold bullion coins category, the full range of Royal Mint Sovereigns (Victoria Young Head, Jubilee, Old Head, Edward VII, George V, Elizabeth II Mix Years, Elizabeth II 2022, Charles III) and the offer of LBMA mints. Check the current gold quotes to compare the premium against the current spot price. Technical descriptions and specifications are available in PL / DE / EN language versions.