Gold Sovereigns
Gold sovereigns were once the principle British gold currency. They were first issued in 1489 for Henry VII, generally with a value of one pound sterling or twenty shillings. The name sovereign related to their majestic and impressive size and to the portraiture on the coin. The earliest examples of which showed the king facing, seated on a throne while the reverse shows the Royal coat of arms on a shield surrounded by a Tudor double rose.
Sovereign coins were discontinued after 1604 and were first replaced by unites (so called because of James I uniting England and Scotland), then later by laurels (named after the laurel that the king is portrayed as wearing on his head), and then guineas ( this name came from Guinea in West Africa, where much of the gold used to make the coins originated).
The production of gold sovereign coins recommenced in 1817, with a portrayal of Saint George killing a dragon, engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci as the reverse design. This same design is still in use on British gold sovereigns, many different reverse designs have been minted during the reigns of William IV, Victoria, George IV and Elizabeth II.
Up until Word War I, sovereign coins were minted in large quantities until World War I but then the UK came off the Gold Standard. From then until 1932, gold sovereign coins were only produced at branch mints in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Bombay and Pretoria (with the exception of some in 1925 that were produced in London). The last regular issue was in 1932 in Pretoria. In 1957 production recommenced and gold sovereigns were being produced most years as bullion, right up to 1982. From then to 1999, proof only versions were being produced, but since 2000, bullion sovereign coins have been minted once again.
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 1891 Sov. in Box - Prestige Gold Sovereign Collection Latest Price: US $294.03 |
 1908 Edward VII Half Gold Sovereign in Nice condition Latest Price: US $117.33 |
 1889 Victoria gold sovereign, 7, 9881 gram fine gold Latest Price: US $320.00 |
 1866 22CT GOLD SHIELD BACK HALF SOVEREIGN COIN Latest Price: US $137.67 |
 ANTIQUE 9CT ROSE GOLD SOVEREIGN HOLDER CASE/FOB HM 1912 Latest Price: US $176.79 |
 STUNNING VICTORIAN 1885 SOLID 22 CT GOLD SOVEREIGN VGC Latest Price: US $292.54 |
 Canada Sovereign 1917-C GEORGE NGC-MS63 gold coin Latest Price: US $470.00 |
 Victoria ~ 1898 ~ 22ct Gold Full Sovereign Coin Latest Price: US $250.30 |
 Victoria ~ 1891 M ~ 22ct Gold Full Sovereign Coin Latest Price: US $251.16 |
 Gold Coin Sovereign Collection 5 Coins Latest Price: US $1,999.00 |
 (5) British Sovereigns over 1oz of pure gold! Latest Price: US $1,358.00 |
 1894 Great Britain 1/2 Sovereign Gold Coin-EF Condition Latest Price: US $250.00 |
 1857, SYDNEY MINT, HALF SOVEREIGN, GOLD Latest Price: US $216.20 |
 2008 HALF SOVEREIGN / BUNC / GOLD COIN Latest Price: US $178.00 |
 British 1884 Gold Sovereign - Victoria Latest Price: US $270.00 |
 Australia 1863 QV Half Sovereign Gold Coin Sydney Mint Latest Price: US $132.75 |
 1907 Great Britain Gold Sovereign ~ About Uncirculated Latest Price: US $287.00 |
 EARLY HEAD 1881-S Victoria RARE GOLD ENGLISH SOVEREIGN Latest Price: US $315.00 |
 1855 GREAT BRITAIN GOLD SOVEREIGN "SHIELD REVERSE" Latest Price: US $264.88 |