The British Sovereign

2nd November 2021

The British Sovereign was struck in its first form in 1489 during Henry VIII’s reign when he ordered the Royal Mint to produce ‘a new money of gold’, the largest and most valuable gold coin at that time. Originally larger in size than today's variant, it continued until 1604, when the coin started to shrink in size. 1817 brought what we now know today as a Sovereign, 22ct gold, 7.98g, with St George and the Dragon to the reverse and the reigning monarch to the front. Ranging from the largest variant, the £5 sovereign weighing in at 39.9g, to the standard full sovereign with 7.98g of 22ct gold, to the smallest, the quarter sovereign of 2g in weight, the allure of these historical coins, in all their forms, has become ever popular with collectors and investors alike.

This deep history continues to appeal and grow in value to this day, with the Royal Mint producing special edition sovereigns and sets, such as a 500th anniversary 1489-1989 proof full sovereign with Royal Mint certificate, estimate £250-350 (lot 150F), in our upcoming Antiques & Collectables sale on the 6th November.
Further highlights amongst a range of coins offered in the auction include a Victorian 1875 full sovereign, £300-500 (lot 150M), and an Elizabeth II 2009 five-coin proof set, estimated at £2000-3000 (lot 150Z).

Now is the perfect time to sell, with auction sale prices continuing to achieve higher than the market value.
Consignments are always welcome for future auctions, including our Christmas Antiques sale on 11th December. We are open Monday-Friday 10am-3pm for valuations and appraisals on the Mendip Hills, or you can contact us by email or telephone.