THE 1918 & 2014 INDIAN MINT MARK SOVEREIGN SET

THE 1918 & 2014 INDIAN MINT MARK SOVEREIGN SET

Between the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with the rise of Britain's influence and the discovery of gold in British colonies, The Royal Mint began establishing branches around the world to produce gold Sovereigns - the chief coin of the British Empire.

In India, the Bombay Branch of The Royal Mint was established in 1917, and the Sovereign was minted for a little over a year beginning in 1918 - the reverse bearing an "I" mint mark and the obverse the portrait of King George V. The total mintage of these Sovereigns was 1,294,372. However, by 1919, production of all Sovereigns struck in India ceased, and the coin would not return to the sub-continent for nearly a century.

On 11 December 2014, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alan Yarrow, made his first official trip to India and struck a special commemorative Sovereign to mark the occasion.

The obverse of the 2014 Sovereign bears the 4th Effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which was the circulating coinage portrait at the time. A total of 60,471 of 2014 India Sovereigns were minted.

On 12 December 2014, The Royal Mint issued a special presentation set comprising an original 1918 Indian Sovereign (in circulating standard) and a 2014 Indian Sovereign (in bullion standard).

The Sovereign Indian Mint Mark Two-Coin Set had an issue limit of 100. The set included a numbered Certificate of Authenticity alongside a 12-page booklet exploring the story of The Royal Mint's Bombay Branch between 1917-1919 and the return of Sovereign production to India in 2013.

Although the mintages of the two Sovereigns themselves are not extremely low, the set itself may be considered rare, being a commemorative set that marks a special occasion and which includes a unique informational booklet. Setting aside any debate regarding its rarity, it's undoubtedly an absolutely beautiful set.

Images from agaunews.com