The only gold coins issued during the reign of George VI: this four coin gold proof Sovereign set is one of just 5,001 issued.
The Year of Three Kings
King George VI acceded to the throne in December 1936 and was crowned in May 1937. Born Albert Frederick Arthur George, he chose the regnal name George to emphasise continuity with his father, George V who died in January 1936.
The younger George came to the throne reluctantly following the abdication of his elder brother, Edward VIII, who was first in line. Edward was forced to choose between his birth right and his love for controversial American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, eventually choosing the latter and putting his stammering sibling, then the Duke of York, in the hot seat.
Despite all this unprecedented disruption, royal traditions rolled on, including the preparation of coronation proof sets by The Royal Mint.
Four Gold Proof Sovereigns
This gold proof set contains four pieces:
- The 1937 Quintuple Sovereign or Five Pound piece: 39.94 grams of 22 carat gold and a diameter of 35.00 millimeters
- The 1937 Double Sovereign or Two Pound piece: 15.98 grams, 28.40 millimetres
- The 1937 'full' Sovereign: 7.98 grams, 22.05 millimetres
- The 1937 Half Sovereign: 3.99 grams, 19.30 millimetres
Each of the coins in this set display Benedetto Pistrucci’s classic Saint George and the dragon motif to the reverse. This design, created for the first modern Sovereigns, issued in 1817, has been a perennial presence on these gold coins for more than two centuries at this point. The date appears below.
The obverse shows Humphrey Paget's portrait of the new king. Described as the 'classic coinage head of the 20th century' it was used until George’s death in 1952. The legend reads: 'GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP'.
The Only George VI Gold
1937 would be the only time that Paget's portrait appeared on gold coinage during George’s reign: Sovereigns would not be minted again until the coronation of his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I.
Only 5,001 George VI gold proof sets were struck in 1937.
While many of these sets have been broken up over the years, this one is complete and comes in its original burgundy leather case with a velvet and silk interior.
The coins in this set show the finest of hairlines under magnification. Otherwise there are no issues for Bright Uncirculated (B UNC).
Steeped in more than 1,100 years of history, The Royal Mint supplies all of the United Kingdom's coinage as well as currency for nations around the world. Renown for craftsmanship and thoughtful design, The Royal Mint also produces commemorative coins, favoured by investors and collectors.
A Millennia of Minting
Founded in the reign of Alfred the Great, around the year 886, The Royal Mint was originally one of several mints which were centralised to London in 1279. For more than 800 years the Mint was based at the Tower of London before moving to Royal Mint Court where it remained until the 1960s.
The Royal Mint has always been on the forefront of economic, technical and artistic innovation. Its skilled craftsmen minted coins that would reach the far corners of the British Empire, establishing the image and reputation of Britain for all whose pockets they ended up in.
In 2010 The Royal Mint became a limited company owned by Her Majesty’s Treasury. In recent years the Mint has struck medals for the 2012 London Olympic Games and opened a visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, in Llantrisant, Wales: the current home of The Royal Mint.
Collecting and Investing
The Royal Mint's commemorative and bullion coins – often minted to mark important national events and anniversaries – are not intended for circulation. They might look like ordinary coins but they are generally worth much more, thanks to their scarcity, finish and composition.
Most commemorative coins produced by The Royal Mint are available in a range of striking standards including Gold Proof, Silver Proof, Brilliant Uncirculated and Bullion. Some are also available in collectors sets. Gold and Silver Proof coins are minted in small numbers, making them rare and desirable.
The Royal Mint's commemorative coins are both VAT-free and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exempt, making them an attractive and valuable investment. Whether you are diversifying your investments or simply appreciate world-class design, commemorative coins from The Royal Mint are a great buy.
The Royal Mint at The Britannia Coin Company
The Britannia Coin Company is proud to stock official commemorative coins from The Royal Mint as well as a wide range of historic Royal Mint coinage. We offer unbeatable value on The Royal Mint coins, backed by our reputation for honesty and integrity, built over more than a decade of trading.
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.
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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.
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