The Jody Clark Portrait — Gold Sovereigns 2015 to 2022
The fifth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was created by Jody Clark, who at the time of its selection was the youngest designer ever to create a definitive Royal portrait for British coinage. Clark — an engraver at The Royal Mint — designed the portrait from within the institution itself, a break from the tradition of external sculptors that had defined previous portrait commissions.
His portrait, identified by the initials JC on the truncation, depicts a more mature Queen Elizabeth II wearing the George IV State Diadem, facing left. It was introduced on sovereign coinage in 2015 and remained the definitive portrait until the end of the reign in September 2022, making it the final portrait of Elizabeth II on gold sovereigns.
The Final Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
The Jody Clark portrait carries a significance that becomes clearer with time. It is the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that appeared on the last seven years of sovereign production during her reign — including some of the most historically significant commemorative issues of the modern era: the 2017 Garter Border 200th Anniversary, the Brexit Strike on the Day sovereigns of 2020 and beyond, the 2022 Platinum Jubilee series, and the 2022 Memorial coins — the final sovereigns struck in her reign.
For collectors, the closing of the Jody Clark era creates a finite, completable series. Every proof sovereign denomination from 2015 to 2022 carries this portrait — and none will again. Type collectors and portrait-set builders are actively seeking top-grade JC era examples across all denominations.
Key Issues in the Jody Clark Sovereign Series
The 2017 Garter Border sovereign — featuring the Order of the Garter surround that had not appeared on a sovereign since 1820 — is widely regarded as the most important modern proof sovereign of its decade, with extremely limited PF70 populations. The 2020 Brexit Strike on the Day in MS70 Matte, with only 55 examples in the top grade from a mintage of 1,500, represents one of the rarest certified modern British gold coins. The 2022 Platinum Jubilee issues round out the series with one final commemorative reverse type.
CGT Exempt Investment Gold
All British gold sovereigns are Capital Gains Tax exempt for UK residents. Browse all graded sovereigns or sell your Jody Clark era coins to us.
