The 2005 Gold Half Sovereign Coin is struck by The Royal Mint in 22-carat gold as part of the British Sovereign family. This classic fractional companion to the full Sovereign has 0.128 troy oz gross weight and around 0.1176 troy oz of fine gold, giving it a clear place within the wider Quarter, Half, Full, Double and Five-Sovereign range.
The obverse carries the monarch portrait used for the year of issue, while the reverse features a special reverse or commemorative treatment linked to the issue year. The 2005 coin is issued during the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait era, a period that includes several important modern reverse changes, which helps place it within the changing portrait and design history of modern Royal Mint gold coinage.
The 2005 issue uses a modern interpretation of St George and the dragon by Timothy Noad rather than the traditional Pistrucci reverse. This distinctive one-year design gives the coin extra interest for collectors comparing modern Sovereign reverse types.
