2019 Elizabeth II Gold Proof Sovereign NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo

Flawless in the Final Years: The 2019 Royal Mint Gold Proof Sovereign in NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo

The gold proof sovereign is The Royal Mint's definitive annual collector issue — struck in 7.98 grams of 22-carat gold to the highest proof standard, carrying Benedetto Pistrucci's St George and the Dragon reverse and the fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark. The 2019 proof sovereign was issued with a mintage of 11,641 — and while that figure may appear substantial at first, the journey from that total to a certified PF70 Ultra Cameo example is the story of how few sovereigns in any given year truly survive handling, storage, and submission with every surface intact.

This example has been certified NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo — the highest grade numerically achievable — under NGC certification number 8220470-003. At PF70, every surface is considered absolutely perfect under expert examination at 5x magnification. No contact marks, no handling imperfections, no striking weakness. The Ultra Cameo designation confirms outstanding frosted relief against deeply mirrored fields. Verify this coin's grade on NGCcoin.uk →

Technical Specifications

Year of Issue	2019
Issuing Mint	The Royal Mint, United Kingdom
Denomination	£1 (One Pound — Full Sovereign — UK Legal Tender)
Metal & Purity	22-Carat Gold (.9167 Fine — 91.67% Pure)
Total Weight	7.98 Grams (0.2354 Troy Oz — actual gold content: 7.32g)
Diameter	22.05 mm
Total Mintage	11,641
Obverse Designer	Jody Clark (Fifth Portrait, Elizabeth II — 2015 to 2022)
Reverse Designer	Benedetto Pistrucci — St George and the Dragon (since 1817)
NGC Grade	PF70 Ultra Cameo — Numerically Perfect
NGC Cert. Number	8220470-003 — Verify Online ↗

Why This Coin

• PF70 Is Rarer Than the Mintage Suggests: Of the 11,641 proof sovereigns struck in 2019, the vast majority were purchased ungraded, handled, stored in boxes, and never submitted to NGC. Of those submitted, only a fraction reached the summit PF70 grade. A single contact mark, a trace of milk spotting, or a minor handling imperfection during any stage between striking and submission is enough to drop a coin below PF70. The certified PF70 population for any given sovereign year is a small fraction of its total mintage — and shrinks further over time as raw examples circulate or deteriorate.
• A Key Date in the Final Elizabeth II Era: The 2019 proof sovereign carries Jody Clark's fifth and final definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II — introduced in 2015 and used until her passing in September 2022. With Elizabeth II sovereigns now a closed series, collector interest in complete date runs has intensified. The 2019 date sits near the end of that run, making it an increasingly sought-after piece for collectors building a comprehensive modern proof sovereign set.
• Two Centuries of Design Continuity: The reverse of this coin carries the same St George and the Dragon composition by Benedetto Pistrucci that appeared on the first modern sovereign in 1817. Over 200 years of unbroken tradition — and on a PF70 example, struck with hand-finished dies and mirror-polished blanks, the detail and depth of that design is at its absolute finest.
• The Benchmark Sovereign Format: The full sovereign — 7.98g, 22.05mm, £1 face value — is the standard denomination and the most widely collected format in the series. It is the coin most buyers mean when they say "a sovereign". In PF70 Ultra Cameo, it is the most liquid, most recognisable, and most universally understood format for proof sovereign collectors worldwide.
• CGT & VAT Exempt — Fully Tax-Free for UK Investors: As official UK legal tender, the gold proof sovereign is completely exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and VAT under current UK law. Any appreciation in value is entirely tax-free for UK holders — regardless of how significantly the numismatic premium grows over time.

Browse related: All Graded Gold Sovereigns  ·  2019 Double Sovereign PF70  ·  2019 Quarter Sovereign PF70  ·  NGC & PCGS Grading Guide