Sovereign.

[CWD]

Hello Everyone. I have been collectiong sovereigns for a while now. Had a question regarding why the older sovereigns have the back of St George's helmet area with a tail piece blowing in the wind. Ive noticed on modern full sovereigns  its missing but still appears on the half sovereign. Can anyone explain why this is?

[5huggy]

@sovereignsteve

[Fastnick]

16 minutes ago, 5huggy said:

@sovereignsteve

Good call @5huggy - Steve is definitely the man for this one 

[Xander]

1 hour ago, CWD said:

Hello Everyone. I have been collectiong sovereigns for a while now. Had a question regarding why the older sovereigns have the back of St George's helmet area with a tail piece blowing in the wind. Ive noticed on modern full sovereigns  its missing but still appears on the half sovereign. Can anyone explain why this is?

Don't know if this will help.

[CWD]

Xander! Thank you so much for the Information. Much appreciated.

[sovereignsteve]

2 hours ago, CWD said:

Hello Everyone. I have been collectiong sovereigns for a while now. Had a question regarding why the older sovereigns have the back of St George's helmet area with a tail piece blowing in the wind. Ive noticed on modern full sovereigns  its missing but still appears on the half sovereign. Can anyone explain why this is?

The helmet streamer was on the original Pistrucci G&D engraving of 1817 but was omitted for the next series, the George IV Laureate head starting in 1821.

I've no idea why the change; perhaps the engraver forgot it and his boss simply liked it.

The next G&D design didn't appear until the Q. Vic YH sovereigns, without the streamer. However they re-introduced it for the Q. Vic Jubilee head and it continued until the QE2 fourth bust sovereigns starting 2009 and has been absent ever since.

Essentially I haven't a clue why they kept changing this aspect buy hey, it's the Royal Mint we're talking about here!😜

The first time a G&D reverse appeared on a half sovereign was for the Q. Vic veiled head series, with the streamer. It was present on all half sovereigns from then until the same fourth bust series starting 2009