In the world of numismatics, precious metals provide a canvas for the ornate designs that grace our coins, with Proof coins commonly made from silver, gold or platinum. However, there are variations of these metals that are also used to make coins, with one of the most enchanting curiosities being rose gold.

Owing to its significant copper content, this precious alloy is distinguishable by its red tint or pinkish hue. The rose gold used by The Royal Mint is typically made up of a high copper content to supplement the pure gold, with sometimes as much as a 50/50 split between the two elements. However, this ratio can vary, with the split being much higher in favour of gold to copper. In both instances, rose gold is often praised for its durability due to its higher copper content.

Whilst it is common to add elements of silver to this compound when creating rose gold, the modern rose gold Sovereign we strike at The Royal Mint today contains little to no silver. In fact, the silver content is so small, it does not register during XRF analysis, the analytical technique used to determine elemental composition.

The process of adding copper to gold is one that can be traced back centuries, with evidence found in various Greek and Roman texts as well as those from the Middle Ages. However, this may have been the result of impurities being present during the smelting process rather than a deliberate attempt at creating a redder gold compound.

Rose gold Sovereigns were commonplace throughout the latter twentieth century and into the new millennium, with its reddish hue becoming somewhat of a hallmark of the modern Sovereign. For 2025, we have struck Sovereigns in rose gold for the last time, making the 2025 collection even more special for collectors of this iconic coin.

Must-haves for coin aficionados and serious collectors, the final rose gold editions of The Sovereign stand out as they are the only commemorative coins in the 2025 collection that bear Benedetto Pistrucci’s masterful St George and the dragon design on the reverse of the coin.

Having first appeared on The Sovereign in 1817, Pistrucci’s design is a truly fitting design to grace the final rose gold editions of this cherished coin.

Don’t let this piece of modern British history slip through your fingers. Order today to secure one of the final rose gold Sovereigns for your coin collection.

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