Brief History of the British Sovereign Gold Coin

This is a brief introduction to the world of the British gold sovereign and as the price of gold per gram increases more and more customers are deciding to sell their prized assets.

The first British gold sovereign was circulated in 1489 by Henry VII, and half sovereign via Henry VIII whilst the mass produced gold sovereign’s we know today begun in 1817 during the reign of George III.

   George III - 1820                George IV - 1824                 William IV - 1832             

"Young" Victoria - 1839       Victoria Jubilee - 1899         Victoria "old" - 1900

      Edward VII - 1902          George V - 1914                               

   Elizabeth II - 1963             Elizabeth II - 2002              Elizabeth II - 2012

Sovereign’s including half sovereigns were actual circulating coins until the beginning of the Great War in 1914.

Sovereigns were minted in the United Kingdom from 1817 to 1917, in 1925, and from 1957 onwards. Half sovereigns waiting until 1982 for a return!

Between 1982 and 2000 only proof or collectors coins were minted with mass production re-started from 2000 onwards.

At the time of writing a Gold sovereign was fetching well in excess of £200 plus the value of a typical 9 carat ring or necklace mount!  Selling gold prices are steady and edging higher so please contact us for a real time valuation if you are considering selling your scrap gold or indeed any gold coins hidden beneath the floor boards!

Technical Specifications
For all modern gold sovereigns,  from 1817.

Full Sovereign

Half Sovereign

Please watch out for a special blog on scarce sovereigns very soon.