New Zealand’s first ever gold sovereign coin is, appropriately, issued for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first ever British sovereign of the nation, Queen Victoria. Adhering to traditional sovereign specifications, each proof coin has been struck on a 22-carat gold blank, just like the originals that circulated throughout the British Empire more than 100 years ago. 

Gold sovereigns were the life blood of the British Empire under Queen Victoria and were produced in a number of countries and colonies for trade. Only in 2019, however, has New Zealand taken the decision to mint its own gold sovereigns, joining the list of important Empire and Commonwealth nations that have gold sovereigns carrying their names.

This double sovereign features the Gothic portrait of Queen Victoria, showing the queen wearing an ornate crown with her hair loosely braided in a long plait exposing the ear and tucked into the back of her crown.

As an extra USP, a separate edition limit of coins have been released with a “flip orientation” - with the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen appearing the other way to how she may appear on her traditional coins.