| Coin | Weight (g) | Composition | Gold Melt Value | Full Melt Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Sovereign(1817-) | 7.988052 | Gold 91.5%, Copper 8.5% |
1925 Gold Sovereign
The Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci originally designed the Sovereign’s reverse using an easily recognized “Saint George and the Dragon” motif. This motif continued to be used for over a century with only minor modifications. As the 20th Century continued the Saint George and the Dragon motif was kept however some variations have very little else in common with the original design. There are also Sovereigns minted for various occasions that have the coat of arms on the reverse instead of the Saint George and the Dragon.
Sovs Close to Spot Price
 1918 GOLD BRITISH SOVEREIGN - KING GEORGE - UNCIRCULATED $350.00 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 7h 1m Bid now |
 1974 ELIZABETH II FULL GOLD SOVEREIGN UNC $387.56 (24 Bids) Time Remaining: 9h 28m Bid now |
 1842 QUEEN VICTORIA GREAT BRITAIN GOLD FULL SOVEREIGN COIN $387.56 (23 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 14m Bid now |
 1852 QUEEN VICTORIA GREAT BRITAIN GOLD FULL SOVEREIGN COIN $457.95 (18 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 19m Bid now |
 1853 QUEEN VICTORIA GREAT BRITAIN GOLD FULL SOVEREIGN COIN $401.18 (19 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 24m Bid now |
 1853 QUEEN VICTORIA GREAT BRITAIN GOLD FULL SOVEREIGN COIN $456.44 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 28m Bid now |
 1862 QUEEN VICTORIA GREAT BRITAIN GOLD FULL SOVEREIGN COIN $395.28 (24 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 34m Bid now |
 1866 QUEEN VICTORIA GREAT BRITAIN GOLD FULL SOVEREIGN COIN $386.06 (20 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 39m Bid now |
 1984 PROOF GOLD BRITISH FULL SOVEREIGN (22KT) $400.00 Time Remaining: 13h 43m Bid now |
The Sovereign got its name because it depicts the UK’s ruler’s profile on their obverse. These are 22.05 millimeters in diameter, 1.52 millimeters thick and weigh 7.988052 grams of 22 karat gold containing 91.9% gold and 8.9% copper. These sovereigns were minted consistently from 1817 to 1917, at the Royal Mint in London, when in 1917 the UK abandoned the gold standard.
2009 Perth Mint Gold Sovereign - Proof
Large gold deposits had been discovered in Australia and mint branches were opened there to mint the Australian gold as sovereign. The mint at Sydney was the first and minted sovereign from 1855, with various designs until they conformed to the London design in 1870 and continued until 1929, all have the “s” mint mark. Then the Melbourne’s mint started production 1872, with an “m” mint mark, and continued through 1931. In 1899 Perth’s branch opened and minted gold sovereign through 1931 and have a “p” mintmark.
1887 Queen Victoria Sovereign - obverse
Ottawa Canada struck gold sovereign from 1908 through 1919 with a “c” mint mark. South Africa’s Pretoria branch minted local gold from 1923 through 1932 and used “sa” as its mint mark. During the one year of production, 1918, the Bombay branch used mint mark “I” for the nearly 1.3 million sovereigns struck there.
1887 Queen Victoria Sovereign - reverse
In 1925 gold sovereigns were struck again in London when Winston Churchill made a poor choice in trying to bring the UK back to the gold standard, the last of these were struck in Pretoria in 1932.
Then beginning in 1957 production resumed in Australia, India, Canada, and South Africa in order to discourage the striking of counterfeit gold sovereign coins which were being minted in Syria and Italy. The need for the UK to maintain the credibility of its bullion seems to do with their foreign policy in the Middle East and the UK’s gold sovereign appears to have been a significant form of payment for related acquired services. These gold bullion coins were produced until 1982. From 1982 to 1999 only proof gold sovereign were struck. Then in 2000 production continued of the bullion series as well.
2012 Gold Sovereign Proof Set
There are also other sizes for the sovereigns. The five pound sovereign can be between 36.02 to 38.61 millimeters in diameter with adjusted thicknesses over the years which guarantees it will weigh 39.94 grams or 1.2841 troy ounces and at 22 carat gold these contain 1.1777 troy ounces of gold. The two pound sovereign is 28.40 millimeters in diameter, weigh 15.98 grams or 0.51377 troy ounces and at 22 carats gold contain 0.47097 troy ounces of gold. Half sovereigns started being minted again in 1982 after being discontinued in 1929, these are 19.30 millimeters in diameter with a thickness of 0.99 millimeters and weigh 3.99 grams or 0.1283 troy ounces at 22 carats gold containing 3.6575 grams or 0.1176 troy ounces of gold. Quarter sovereign were first struck in 2009 with a diameter of 13.50 millimeter, weighing 1.997 grams or 0.0642 troy ounces of the 22 carat gold containing 1.83065 grams or 0.0589 troy ounces of gold.
 Gold Coins of the World List Price: Sale Price: $76.96 You save: $12.99 (14%)  Eligible for free shipping! |
 The Gold Sovereign Sale Price: $78.06 Eligible for free shipping! |
 The Gold Sovereign: Golden Jubilee Edition Sale Price: $56.81 Eligible for free shipping! |
