A New Gold Sovereign
The launch of a King Charles III Gold Sovereign is expected very soon. The full details of this sovereign are still under wraps, so we are not at liberty to share more with you yet. However, images and further information will be confirmed very soon on our product page.
Join the waitlist from the product page to receive instant notification as soon as this eagerly anticipated coin is available to order: Click Here.
Early Sovereign’s
Gold sovereign coins have a rich history. Since their introduction centuries ago, these coins have become a popular choice for coin collectors and investors alike.
The first gold sovereign was struck during Henry V11’s reign. Gold coins had been in circulation for centuries in England, but on 14th October 1489, the King ordered the Royal Mint to produce ‘a new money of gold’. These coins were like nothing that had ever been seen in England before. Large and handsome, Henry V11 ordered the coins to include a majestic double rose symbolising the union of York and Lancaster following the end of the war of the roses.
[Image Source: The Royal Mint]
The coin was an emblem of stability and prestige and the sovereign was accepted as a currency in Britain. When each monarch succeeded the throne, they would create a new sovereign for themselves.
Read 'The Importance of The Gold Sovereign Coin' here.
Sovereign Comeback
The tradition of minting new designs died out for over 150 years before the Sovereign was resurrected following the defeat of Napoleon, at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Britain’s financial situation was looking dire, and so a review of the coinage led to the introduction of a gleaming twenty-shilling piece named the ‘New’ sovereign. Almost half the weight and size of its counterpart. It featured the iconic St George and the Dragon designed by Benedetto Pistrucci.
In 1825, St George was replaced by a standard image of the royal coat of arms. This proved to be very unpopular and Pistrucci’s George was reinstated during Queen Victoria’s reign.
The same image has predominantly remained on the reverse of the coin ever since except on a couple of occasions: the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The 2012 design featured a stylised interpretation of St George and the Dragon by Paul Day. The 2022 design featured the official coat of arms for Queen Elizabeth II.
Read ' Why is Saint George on Gold Sovereign Coins?' here.
The Modern Gold Sovereign
The gold sovereign helped finance Britain during WW1, with an estimated £100,000,000 taken from the vaults of the Bank of England to aid the fight.
Every coin is made using the original master tools so they show Pistrucci’s bold, brilliant designs in all their original glory.
The modern gold sovereign is made from 22 carat gold and has a face value of one pound sterling.
They traditionally come in two sizes although there have been quarter sovereigns as well.
Full size. Weight of 7.981g. Actual Gold Weight of 0.2354 Troy oz.
Half size. Weight of 3.99g. Actual Gold Weight of 0.1177 Troy oz.
Quarter size. Weight of 1.997g. Actual Gold Weight of 0.0588 Troy oz.
Sovereigns are legal tender in the UK and benefit from being capital gains tax and VAT free.
Here To Help
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