British Gold Sovereigns
Vintage Sovereign Gold Coins, bullion coins from history.
British Royal Mint Gold Sovereign Coins coins have been minted in Great Britain since 1817.
Widely regarded as the flagship bullion coin of The Royal Mint, British Gold Sovereign Coins are an excellent choice for diversifying your gold investment portfolio with adding small fractional gold coins. Recognized worldwide for its purity and historical significance, the British Gold Sovereign Coin is minted in 22-karat gold. Old British Sovereign Gold Coins contain exactly 0.23542 oz (7.322381 g) of gold and have face values of 1 pound each. Half Sovereign Gold Coins contain .1177 oz (3.99 grams) of gold.
The Gold Sovereign Coin bears the iconic image the patron saint of England, St. George slaying a dragon. In its current form, this British Gold Coin, known as the Sovereign Gold Coin, has been minted since 1817. Gold Sovereign Coin history however, goes back to 1489 and the reign of King Henry VII.
Quick Facts About British Gold Sovereigns
The very first British Gold Sovereign was struck in October 1489 under the reign of King Henry VII. The early coins were the largest and most valuable gold coins circulating in England at the time. The obverse of the first coins featured a portrait of Henry VII on the royal throne wearing his coronation crown. The reverse of the coin displayed the royal coat of arms, a double rose that symbolized the union of York and Lancaster.
The current design and likeness of the British Gold Sovereign was introduced in 1817 following the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. The reverse features a notable depiction of St George on Horseback Slaying a Dragon by artist Benedetto Pistrucci.
During the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 until 1901, the portrait of Saint George and the Dragon was replaced with the Victorian Shield Coat of Arms.
Each gold sovereign is minted with .2354 troy ounces of pure gold in an 22k alloy that provides additional strength and durability. These are some of the most widely recognized coins in the world resulting from their wide circulation and minting throughout the British colonies of Australia and India.
The obverse design features a portrait of the reining monarch from the year of minting, as is the tradition of the British Royal Family.
Vintage Sovereign Gold Coins each contain almost 1/4 oz of pure gold and make an excellent choice for stacking away as a store of value. These coins are often some of the cheapest and lowest premium coins due to the mass quantity of coins that have been produced throughout the 200 year history.
While many of the coins are minted by the Royal Mint in London, the coins have been minted in other locations that were part of the British Empire.
Investors who buy secondary market gold sovereign coins might be surprised to find some with mint marks that could include "C" for Canada, "M" for Melbourne, "S" for Sydney, "P" for Perth and "I" for India. The location of the mint mark will vary depending on the year of mintage. In some years it can be found on the obverse at the base of the effigy. However, it is more commonly found at the bottom of the reverse design. Coins that are missing a mint mark are from London.
Compare Prices of British Gold Sovereigns
Vintage gold coins have a rich history and many investors are attracted to these coins as tangible assets. When buying British Gold Sovereigns as a store of value, FindBullionPrices.com can help you find the lowest premiums from an assortment of trusted and reputable online bullion dealers. The prices on our site are updated every hour and adjusted for gold spot price. This gives you the tools to compare gold prices.
