Sinclair Sovereign
Encyclopedia
The Silver Sovereign was a high-end calculator
introduced by Sinclair Research Ltd
of the United Kingdom
in 1976, it was one of the last Sinclair calculators. The Sovereign came in silver
and gold
plated models, with leather pouches and fitted wooden cases. The display can view 8 digits using red light-emitting diode
s (LEDs), and includes four functions for percentage, memory, square root and square. It uses two 2.5 volt button cells and uses a Mostek
MK50321N main integrated circuit
(IC). Similar to other Sinclair products and calculators, the Sovereign was small and slim measuring 36 x 141 x 12 mm (1.4 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches).
The Sovereign was unusual because the casing was made from pressed steel
. This allowed a variety of paint and plating options, including black painted, bright chrome plated, silver plated, and gold plated. A small number of solid gold ones were made. In 1976, the chrome plated version cost GB£30 (US$60) and the gold plated version cost twice as much. A limited edition silver plated version, inscribed to commemorate the Silver Jubilee
of Queen Elizabeth II
in 1977 was produced.
Calculator
An electronic calculator is a small, portable, usually inexpensive electronic device used to perform the basic operations of arithmetic. Modern calculators are more portable than most computers, though most PDAs are comparable in size to handheld calculators.The first solid-state electronic...
introduced by Sinclair Research Ltd
Sinclair Research Ltd
Sinclair Research Ltd is a British consumer electronics company founded by Sir Clive Sinclair in Cambridge. Originally incorporated in 1973 as Ablesdeal Ltd., it remained dormant until 1976, and did not adopt the name Sinclair Research until 1981....
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1976, it was one of the last Sinclair calculators. The Sovereign came in silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
plated models, with leather pouches and fitted wooden cases. The display can view 8 digits using red light-emitting diode
Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting...
s (LEDs), and includes four functions for percentage, memory, square root and square. It uses two 2.5 volt button cells and uses a Mostek
Mostek
Mostek was an integrated circuit manufacturer, founded in 1969 by ex-employees of Texas Instruments. Initially their products were manufactured in Worcester, Massachusetts, however by 1974 most of its manufacturing was done in the Carrollton, Texas facility on Crosby Road...
MK50321N main integrated circuit
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
(IC). Similar to other Sinclair products and calculators, the Sovereign was small and slim measuring 36 x 141 x 12 mm (1.4 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches).
The Sovereign was unusual because the casing was made from pressed steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
. This allowed a variety of paint and plating options, including black painted, bright chrome plated, silver plated, and gold plated. A small number of solid gold ones were made. In 1976, the chrome plated version cost GB£30 (US$60) and the gold plated version cost twice as much. A limited edition silver plated version, inscribed to commemorate the Silver Jubilee
Silver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1977 was produced.