Pretoria mint South African 1926 George V gold Sovereigns at our best price.
Obverse
Left-facing portrait of King George V by Australian sculptor Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal. Legend around reads: 'GEORGIVS D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:'.
Reverse
Benedetto Pistrucci's classic Saint George and the dragon design, created for the first modern Sovereigns, struck in 1817. England's patron saint points his sword at a cowering beast from his position on a rearing horse. Date below: 1921. 'SA' mintmark to ground below dragon for South Africa.
Specification
22 carat (91.67%) gold Sovereign, struck at the Pretoria mint in South Africa to traditional specifications. Weight: approximately 7.98 grams. Diameter: 22.05 millimetres. Edge: milled.
Grade
Our Best Value Sovereigns are graded 'Very Fine' or better by our expert numismatists. VF coins display a high level of fine detail with some wear to the high points and marks associated with having been in circulation. The images on this webpage are stock photographs but represent the type and grade of coin available.
Gold Sovereigns Of George V
George V became King-Emperor in May 1910, following the death of his father, Edward VII. During George's reign the British Empire reached its greatest territorial extent while other European empires fell with the events of the First World War. George was succeeded briefly in 1936 by his eldest son, Edward VIII, who abdicated in favour of his brother who reigned as King George VI.
The obverse of George V Sovereigns features Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal's portrait of the King, facing left, as used on all his British coinage. This is accompanied by a legend that reads: 'GEORGIVS D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:'. The reverse of these coins shows the date and Benedetto Pistrucci's interpretation of the legend of Saint George and the dragon, created in 1817 for the first modern Sovereigns.
Sovereigns were struck in London during George V's reign but also at branch mints in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney and Perth), Canada (Ottawa), South Africa (Pretoria) and India (Bombay). You can identify George V branch mint Sovereigns by examining the ground beneath the dragon on the reverse for an identifying letter.
History Of The Pretoria Mint, South Africa
Gold was discovered in the South African Republic in 1886 and from the resulting boom came a domestic currency, struck at a mint, opened in Pretoria in 1892 by President Paul Kruger. This mint ceased operations during the early years of the British occupation when UK currency became legal tender. Coin production in Pretoria - then the administrative capital of the Union of South Africa - began again in 1923 when the city became the site of the final Royal Mint branch to be opened.
The first South African Sovereigns were struck in Pretoria in late 1923. Those early Sovereigns are particularly rare though production increased through the decade to the point where 18 million of these gold coins were being struck in 1928, more than a decade after Sovereigns had ceased being minted in London.
The Pretoria mint was the last of the branch mints to strike Sovereigns, the final issue being made in 1932. In 1941 the facility was reopened as the South African Mint, tasked with producing all coins of the South African Rand, including their own influential gold coins the Krugerrand.
Historic South African Gold Coins
You can identify Sovereigns minted in South Africa by the tiny 'SA' found above the date on the reverse. These gold coins were minted in Pretoria for less than a decade so they're not too common but very collectible. This 1926 example is one of 11,107,611 minted in this year.
Our historic gold Sovereigns are individually graded and authenticated by our expert staff. You will receive the coin in the photographs displayed above.
Grade: EF - Excellent details, usual very minor contact marks for gold: Extremely Fine.
Like all British Sovereigns, this one is VAT free as investment gold and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exempt because it's UK legal tender. It's composed of 7.98 grams of 22 carat (916.7) gold with a diameter of 22.05 millimetres.
Sell An South Africa 1926 Gold Sovereign
Got a historic branch mint Sovereign you are looking to sell? We buy Sovereigns minted in Pretoria and other rare coins for market leading prices. Visit our Sell Your Coins page for more information or contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your George V Sovereign.
Buy and sell coins with confidence when you use The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.
Buy Collectable Coins Online
We offer a wide range of collectable and investment coins in pre-owned and brand-new condition. As our name suggests, we focus on British coins (from hammered metal-detecting finds to modern Royal Mint issues) with a healthy selection of pieces from international mints too. All the coins we sell are 100% guaranteed authentic and, where relevant, are individually certified.
The Britannia Coin Company is part of the Gold-Traders group, founded in 2008. We're members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity and expertise.
You're guaranteed a fully protected service when you buy online with The Britannia Coin Company. Our payment process is fully encrypted, preventing unauthorised access to your personal and financial details. Check your browser bar for the trusted padlock symbol: it's a mark of security.
Free And Insured UK Shipping
The price of all our coins includes free, fully insured UK shipping.
We post most orders within one to three working days of receipt. Please check individual product pages for accurate delivery estimates.
We deliver internationally. All payments are to be made in Pounds Sterling. We have a flat rate international shipping charge of just £15. See our dedicated delivery page for exceptions and further information.
Sell Your Coins With Confidence
Our experts want to make selling your coins a stress-free experience. They're ready to provide transparent valuations for your old coins: whether that's an individual piece or a large collection.
The team buys thousands of coins every month via our postal valuation service. It's a safe and easy way to sell coins from home with payment via bank transfer available the same day you confirm our price.
If you'd prefer to visit us in person, we've got secure, private meeting rooms in our offices at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AE. We recommend calling ahead to book an appointment or check out one of our specialist drop-in valuation days.
Visit Our Wiltshire Showroom
If you're looking for a bargain then why not visit our showroom? We've got lots of great discount coins available in our cabinets at Old Bank Antiques.
From circulating £2s and 50ps to world coins, commemorative sets and new releases to ancients, we've got something for everyone. Make sure you save time to browse the glass, ceramics, jewellery, clocks and militaria on display in the rest of the shop, located at 143 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AB.
You won't find our full range on display in our showroom but if there is something particular you would like to examine then please do get in touch. We're pleased to arrange a private viewing appointment at a time that suits you.
Contact Our Coin Experts Now
Got questions about buying or selling coins? Our friendly team of numismatists (coin experts) are ready to assist with valuations, offers, postage enquiries, and more.
Call our enquiries line on 01793 205 007 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Drop us a line at coins@britanniacoincompany.com.
Message us using our live chat feature (that's the green button, found at the bottom right of this page).
Visit us at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4 7AB (we recommend checking our location map before you set out).
