United Kingdom: The Gold Standard 1 oz Gold 2021

United Kingdom: The Gold Standard 2021 1 oz Gold is a commemorative bullion coin continuing the annual series initiated by The Royal Mint in 2016 – exactly 200 years after the gold standard was introduced in the UK. This milestone in financial history, linking the value of the British pound to gold, was crucial in stabilizing the post-war economy. The growing importance of gold as the foundation of money dates back to 1717, when Sir Isaac Newton – then Master of the Mint – contributed to fixing the value of the gold guinea. In 1816, the Coinage Act introduced a new system which became fully effective five years later, in 1821, with the full implementation of the gold standard in the UK.

Obverse features the official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by sculptor Jody Clark. The monarch’s profile with crown is depicted in an elegant, contemporary finish, representing one of the last official portraits of the Queen used on bullion coins during her reign. The obverse design is complemented by royal inscriptions and the coin’s face value.

Reverse is a design by Dominique Evans, an artist collaborating with The Royal Mint, symbolically referencing the stability and trust the gold standard brought. The central motif is a precisely rendered balance scale – a classic symbol of equilibrium, honesty, and enduring monetary value. Surrounding details and the careful finish of the coin’s surface emphasize the elegance of the design, paying tribute to the historic legacy of British monetary policy. The top of the reverse bears the inscription “The Gold Standard 2021” and the bottom shows the weight and purity of the metal.