Coin
½ Sovereign - Charles III Queen Elizabeth II Memorial (2022) — United Kingdom
United Kingdom • 2022 • KM# 2339
Overview
Gold coin from United Kingdom issued in 2022 commemorating Queen Elizabeth II Memorial.
Specifications
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Year
- 2022
- Composition
- Gold (.9167)
- Weight
- 3.99 g
- Diameter
- 19.3 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM# 2339
- Issuer
- United Kingdom
Design details
Obverse
Uncrowned portrait of King Charles III left, legend around.
Reverse
The Royal Arms, at its centre a crowned and quartered shield supported by a crowned English lion on the left and a Scottish unicorn on the right, date below.
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Martin Jennings, Jody Clark is credited as the designer for the Non-circulating coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Low mintage: Only 5,993 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
- Gold issue: Gold (.9167) — bullion demand competes with numismatic demand. Weight and fineness (not just face value) drive the melt-value floor.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM# 2339. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
Issued by the Royal Mint in 2022, this half sovereign serves as a commemorative tribute following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September of that year. It marks a significant transition in British numismatic history, representing the first gold sovereign series to feature the effigy of King Charles III. This release follows the tradition of producing special heraldic reverse designs for major royal milestones rather than the standard Saint George and the Dragon motif.
Design heritage
The obverse features the initial definitive portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings, characterized by a left-facing profile without a crown, consistent with the tradition for male monarchs. The reverse illustrates a modern interpretation of the Royal Arms by Jody Clark, showcasing a quartered shield supported by the English lion and Scottish unicorn. This heraldic design was specifically chosen to honor the late Queen's long reign at the time of the King's accession.
Varieties and technical notes
This issue was minted at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant with a reeded edge and a standard medal alignment. As a non-circulating commemorative piece, collectors should focus on the quality of the proof finish, ensuring there is no clouding or hairline scratching on the mirrored fields. All specimens in this specific memorial series are struck in 22-carat gold and feature the distinct 2022 date below the coat of arms.
Survival and modern availability
The mintage for this specific Elizabeth II Memorial memorial half sovereign is limited to 5,993 pieces, making it significantly scarcer than standard annual bullion issues. Because these coins were produced for collectors and investors in a period of high demand for royal memorabilia, most have been preserved in original Royal Mint packaging or third-party grading capsules. Their survival rate is expected to remain high, though their availability is restricted by the low initial production run.
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Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view United Kingdom in the country guide.