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In partnership with the Royal Mint, Sovereign Rarities Ltd. is pleased to introduce an exclusive new series of gold and silver coins: City Views. This range pays homage to the historic European Thalers of the 16th-18th centuries, famous for their depictions of elevated views of the beautiful contemporary cityscapes. The new City View series from the Royal Mint celebrates breathtaking views of iconic urban landmarks around the world renowned as cultural marvels. They will be issued in low mintages of proof 1 Kilo, 5oz, 2oz and 1oz in both gold and silver.
Switzerland, Basel. City View Silver Double Thaler, c.1670
London, City View, Gold 5oz, 2022
The first coin in the series focuses on the City of London, home of the first Royal Mint. The London City View Coin features a panoramic historic view, including the River Thames and the Tower of London dating from the 17th century. As an iconic symbol of the last military conquest of Britain, its construction had a profound impact on the national culture and language while forging closer ties with mainland Europe.
An etching by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607–77) inspired the reverse design that appears on the coin. Born in Prague, Hollar was a prolific artist who came to London in 1636. During the English Civil War, Hollar fought on the royalist side before moving to Antwerp for a time. Hollar’s body of work comprises almost 2,800 prints, paintings and drawings, and his views of London form a vital historical record before the Great Fire ravaged the city in 1666.
Viewed from any vantage point, London sprawls in all directions, revealing its layered history. One of the world’s oldest great cities, it has been perpetually reshaped by the restless energy of its citizens, and today you will find ancient monuments and modern skyscrapers standing side by side, as tall, steel-framed towers have redrawn the city’s skyline. However, for hundreds of years, the Tower of London dominated the area that has now become London’s financial district.
Rome, City View, Gold 1oz, 2022
The second coin in the City Views series focuses on the City of Rome, one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in the world. The Rome City View Coin features a bird-eye view of the city from the Janiculum hill taken from a sketch by Jacques Alphonse Testard in the early 19th century.
Rome is generally considered to be the "cradle of Western civilization and Christian culture", and the centre of the Catholic Church. After becoming capital of the Papal States in the 8th century AD, almost all popes spearheaded an architectural and urban initiative aimed at making the city of Rome the artistic and cultural centre of the world. As such, Rome became one of the major centres of the Renaissance and the birthplace of both the Baroque style and Neoclassicism. Famous artists, painters, sculptors, and architects made the city the focus of their activity, creating masterpieces throughout Rome. Their legacy persists in the beauty of the city and its buildings, depicted magnificently here in gold and silver.
A new City View Coin, featuring a different historic city around the world, will be released intermittently. Limited mintages will be available. The program pays tribute to historic City View coins struck around Europe centuries ago, amongst the most beautiful, detailed and sought-after coins in existence. We hope that you enjoy this new series, an appreciation of numismatic art and the cities that shaped the world as we know it today.
