{"product_id":"1983-elizabeth-ii-gold-proof-sovereign-ngc-pf70-ultra-cameo","title":"1983 Elizabeth II Gold Proof Sovereign NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-description\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1983 Gold Proof Sovereign – Arnold Machin Decimal Portrait – NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 1983 Sovereign carries Arnold Machin's second definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, widely known as the \"decimal head\" — a youthful, draped portrait showing the Queen wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, in use on UK coinage from 1968 into the mid-1980s. The reverse carries Benedetto Pistrucci's enduring Saint George and the Dragon design, struck using specially selected blanks and highly polished dies to achieve the coin's proof finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1983 holds a distinctive place in the Sovereign's story: from 1983 through to 1997, gold Sovereigns were issued in proof form only, with no bullion or general circulation strikes produced in any of those years. This makes every Sovereign dated 1983 a proof coin by definition, rather than one of two possible finishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGraded \u003cstrong\u003eNGC PF70 Ultra Cameo\u003c\/strong\u003e — the maximum attainable grade, reflecting a flawless strike with no imperfections under magnification and strong cameo contrast between the frosted devices and mirrored fields. Only 77 examples of this coin have ever been certified at this top grade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCoin Highlights\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArnold Machin's \"decimal head\" second portrait of Queen Elizabeth II\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReverse: Benedetto Pistrucci's Saint George and the Dragon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom 1983 — part of a run of years where Sovereigns were issued in proof form only, with no bullion strikes produced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTotal issue of 21,250, including those from the three-coin proof set offered that year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStruck in 22 carat gold to proof finish by The Royal Mint\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCertified NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo — with only 77 examples graded at this level\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEncapsulated in a tamper-evident NGC holder for authenticity and protection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"spec-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYear\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1983\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMint\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe Royal Mint, Llantrisant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eComposition\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22 carat gold (91.67% fine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.98 grams\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiameter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22.05 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEdge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMilled\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFinish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProof\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eObverse Designer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArnold Machin (second portrait)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReverse Designer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBenedetto Pistrucci\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTotal Issue (incl. sets)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e21,250\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrading\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNGC PF70 Ultra Cameo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePopulation at Grade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e77 (NGC, correct at time of listing)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy This Coin Stands Out\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith gold Sovereigns issued in proof form only across this entire era, 1983 carries a slightly different story to the higher-mintage bullion-era dates in the same portrait run — every surviving example was struck to proof standard from the outset. Combined with a population of just 77 at PF70 Ultra Cameo, this is a strong choice for collectors building a Machin decimal-portrait year set or seeking a top-graded proof from this distinctive proof-only period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs UK legal tender gold, this coin is exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents and free from VAT under current investment gold rules. Browse our full range of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.sovaracoins.com\/collections\/buy-graded-sovereigns\"\u003egraded gold Sovereigns\u003c\/a\u003e to find more pieces across every era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ngccoin.uk\/certlookup\/8467450-006\/70\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1983 G.BRITAIN 1SOV\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Royal Mint","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":61026933539150,"sku":"1983-gold-proof-sovereign-ngc-pf70-ultra-cameo","price":1160.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0853\/9370\/3246\/files\/1983-gold-proof-half-sovereign-ngc-pf70-ultra-cameo1.webp?v=1790840108","url":"https:\/\/www.sovaracoins.com\/products\/1983-elizabeth-ii-gold-proof-sovereign-ngc-pf70-ultra-cameo","provider":"Sovara Coins LTD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}