Weights of Sovereign Coins
THE SOVEREIGN - was first issued by Henry VII in 1489 at a weight of 240 grains and value of 20 shillings. The design on all sovereigns is the king (sovereign) enthroned in majesty. Henry VIII also issued the same coin for his first coinage of 1509-26. In 1526 Henry revalued to 22 shillings and within months to 22s 6d. No coin-weights are known for these first sovereigns. In the same year for his second coinage, Henry issued three new coins - the George-noble (6s 8d), the Crown of the Rose (4s 6d), and shortly after its replacement, the Crown of the Double-Rose (5s) at only 22 carat fine. Coin-weights are known only for the Crown of the Double-Rose which had a weight of 57½ grains. The weight is square with a crowned double-rose and crowned 'R' to left and right.
THE DEBASED SOVEREIGN - by 1542 Henry VIII had serious monetary problems and a decision was made to increase his wealth by debasement - the addition of alloy to the coinage. In May 1544 all gold coins were reduced to 23 carat fine and the weight of the sovereign was reduced from 240 to 200 grains. In 1545 further measures were taken and the sovereign fell to 22 carat fine and a weight of only 192 grains, to be followed in April 1546 by a reduction to only 20 carat fine. Weights are known for the full sovereign with sovereign enthroned obverse and crowned XXS reverse.The half-sovereign issue of 1544 with a weight of 96 grains and value of 10 shillings is represented by a square weight with sovereign enthroned on the obverse and crowned XS on the reverse. Weights for the quarter sovereign (Crown) of 1544 with a weight of 48 grains are also known with crowned double-rose obverse and crowned VS reverse. Weights for the halfcrown are not known. After Henry's death in 1547 the debased gold coinage of 20 carat fine was continued under Edward VI (but still in the name of Henry VIII) until 1550 - a posthumous coinage. From January 1549 to April 1550 the sovereigns in the name of Edward VI were returned to 22 carat fine gold but at a reduced weight of 169½ grains. The fractions were of a new profile bust right.
THE 20s CROWN GOLD SOVEREIGN - Edward VI's monetary reforms of 1550 resulted in a dual standard in which 'Fine' gold of 23½ carat was used for all denominations other than this 20 shilling sovereign and its parts. The 20 shilling sovereign remained at 22 carat 'Crown' gold and this dual use of different standards was set to continue for another 100 years until the end of Charles I's reign. The 20s sovereign issued in 1550 at a weight of 174½ grains was a completely new type with obverse of a half-length crowned and armoured figure to right holding sword and orb, and for the reverse a large crowned shield of the royal Arms. Elizabeth I issued a 20 shilling coin of the same weight (more commonly called a pound) with a profile left crowned bust. The weight was slightly reduced to 172 grains in 1601 for Elizabeth's last coinage and remained the same for James I's initial coinage of 1603-04. James I resumed the half-length figure in armour obverse with bust to right. The known coin-weights are square with bust to right for Edward VI, bust to left for Elizabeth I, and bust to right for James I. The reverse has a crowned 'ER' or XXS. Coin-weights for the half-sovereign, the crown and the half-crown are also known.
THE 'FINE' SOVEREIGN - in a measure to counteract the substantial debasement of the previous reign, Edward VI issued a new 'fine' sovereign of standard gold from 1550. It had the old weight of 240 grains but with an increased value of 30 shillings. Identical coins were also issued during the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth I. The coin-weights show the reverse of the coin - a shield of the Royal Arms on a double-rose on the obverse with a crowned XXXS on the reverse.
THE ROSE RYAL - James I issued the sovereign sparingly from 1606 at a reduced weight of 213¼ grains. It became known as the 'Rose Ryal' from the large rose on the reverse. In 1612 the coin was revalued to 33 shillings. Square and round coin-weights are known, again using the reverse design of the coin - the royal Arms on a double-rose with a reverse of XXXIIIS.
THE ROSE RYAL - was in 1619 reduced in weight to 196½ grains and revalued back to 30 shillings. Square coin-weights are known with a shield of royal Arms within a circular border of flowers and a reverse of XXXS.
THE UNITE - from his second coinage of 1604 James I (being also James VI of Scotland) styled himself 'king of Great Britain' and from the legend on his coins the sovereign became known as the Unite. It was issued at 155 grains and was current for 20 shillings. The square coin-weights have I.R. BRIT and the round weights I.R.MA.BRI. around a half-length armoured figure with orb and sceptre. The reverses are XXS for the Unite; XS for the half (double-crown); VS for the quarter (britain-crown); IIS VID for the eighth (halfcrown - only round weights are known for this). A new coin (the thistle-crown) at one fifth of the Unite (4 shillings) is not represented by a weight at this value. In 1612 the Unite was revalued to 22 shillings. The known coin-weights are the same as the previous type but are more common and have the revised values of XXIIS - XIS - VS VID - IIS IXD on the reverse. The thistle-crown is represented by square and round coin-weights with obverse of a two-leaved thistle flanked by I.R. and the value on the reverse. Some of these Unites and their halves were still in circulation during James II's reign and weights (151 and 75½ grains) are known with IACOBVS.II.REX around a laureate bust to right and XXIIS or XIS on the reverse.
THE LAUREL - in 1619 James I issued a new lighter 20 shilling piece of 140½ grains which was remarkable in having a left-facing laureate bust of Roman style and because of this design it became known as the Laurel. All the known coin-weights are square with laureate bust on obverse and crowned XXS on reverse. Coin-weights for the half and quarter are also known. Because the later Charles I Unite was the same weight as the Laurel there was no need for new weights as a consequence of the 1632 Proclamation which banned square coin-weights and so round weights for the Laurel are unknown.
THE UNITE - in 1625 Charles I re-issued the Unite of 20 shillings at a weight of 140½ grains. Square and round weights are known - the obverse has CARO REX or CAROLVS REX around a crowned profile-left bust and on the reverse a crowned XXS. Coin-weights for the half and quarter are also known. The Unite was continued at the same weight and value during the Commonwealth from 1649-60. Charles II also issued the Unite for the first two years of his reign from 1660-62 at a reduced weight of 131¾ grains but no coin-weights are known for this issue. As with the Unites of James I, some Charles I coins were also still circulating during the reign of James II (1685-88) and weights of 139 grains (and 69½ grains for the half) are known with obverse of IACOBVS.II.REX around a laureate bust right and for the reverse a crowned XXS (XS for the half).
