1986 Sovereign Coins

Explore our collection of 1986 Sovereign Coins, a key early issue in the Maklouf portrait era of Britain’s flagship gold coin series. Struck by The Royal Mint, the 1986 Sovereign continues the long-standing tradition dating back to 1817, pairing Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic St George and the Dragon reverse with the Raphael Maklouf portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, introduced the year before in 1985. Issued in 22-carat gold, the 1986 Sovereign is an important continuation of this modern design transition and a widely collected date in the Sovereign series.

Early Maklouf Portrait Era

The 1986 Sovereign belongs to the early years of the Raphael Maklouf effigy period (1985–1997), which replaced Arnold Machin’s earlier portrait.

Available Denominations and Editions

The 1986 Sovereign collection typically includes a range of formats for collectors and investors:

• Full Sovereign
• Half Sovereign
• Double Sovereign (£2)
• Five Sovereign (£5)
• Gold Bullion Sovereigns
• Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) issues
• Gold Proof Sovereigns
• Royal Mint presentation sets
• Certified and graded examples (PCGS / NGC)

Proof issues are generally more sought after due to their limited mintages and superior finish.

A Stable Early Maklouf Sovereign Date

The 1986 Sovereign is a steady and widely collected modern issue that reflects the early consolidation of the Maklouf portrait period. Its strong design continuity and collector relevance make it a dependable and important part of any Sovereign year-by-year collection.

Browse our range below to discover 1986 Sovereign Coins, including Full, Half, Double and Five Sovereigns, bullion and proof issues, presentation sets, and certified examples from this early Maklouf-era release.