Modern British Trade Dollar
£6,309.16
1oz Gold Proof Coin
Year of Production 2022
Description
Saint Helena is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean which is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The currency of the island is the Saint Helena pound, fixed at parity with the pound sterling. The island has authorised some private mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes – including in the popular gold ounce (1 oz gold) format, denominated as £5.
The 2022 1 oz St Helena Modern British Trade Dollar Gold Coin is part of a range dedicated to “trade dollars” and is an artist’s impression of what a modern British trade dollar would look like.
The original British Trade Dollar was struck between 1895 and 1935 to facilitate trade in the Far East, and was legal tender in the Straits Settlements, Labuan and Hong Kong. The coins also circulated as bullion in China.
OBVERSE
The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the “Fifth Portrait” worldwide but “Sixth Portrait” in Australia, where the Queen’s portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).
The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen’s Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.
Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is “uncouped” (includes the Queen’s shoulders). In small letters on the left, the artist’s initials JC (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the rim is the monarch’s legend, the date of issue and the face value: QUEEN ELIZABETH II · ST. HELENA · 5 POUNDS · 2022 ·.
Obverse Inscription QUEEN ELIZABETH II · ST. HELENA · 5 POUNDS · 2022 ·
REVERSE
The reverse design shows Britannia, the female personification of Great Britain, turned half left and facing the viewer. She wears a crested helmet with a lifted visor decorated with the flag of the United Kingdom; behind her, a trident as the symbol of British maritime tradition.
In the background – the globe, with the (modern) map of the United Kingdom, patterned with the Union Jack flag.
Around above left, the inscription TRADE DOLLAR.
Below right, the EIC mint mark of the East India Company; the letters are separated by arrows radiating from the centre around which they are situated.
Reverse Inscription TRADE DOLLAR
Specifications
- Country: Saint Helena
- Currency: Saint Helena Pound
- Coin Type: Gold Ounce (1 oz)
- Issued: 2022
- Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
- Effigy: Queen Elizabeth II - Portrait by Jody Clark (Uncouped version)
- Face Value: 5 (x Pound)
- Total Mintage: 100
- Current: Yes
- Material: 0.9999 Gold
- Designer: Chiara Principe
- Technology: Milled (machine-made)
- Shape: Round
- Orientation: Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
- Size: 32.000 mm
- Mass: 31.100 g
Additional information
Denomination | £5 |
---|---|
Grade | Proof |
Weight | 31.100 g |
Date | 2022 |