1968 Gold Full Sovereign Elizabeth II Coin

Buy A 1968 Gold Sovereign

The 1968 Gold Sovereign is a desirable British bullion coin that appeals to both investors and collectors thanks to its gold content, recognisable design, and historical significance.

These coins are struck in 22-carat gold and contain 7.31 grams of fine gold. The 1968 Sovereign was produced as a bullion coin by The Royal Mint and remains widely traded today. This year has the added appeal of being the last to use the popular first coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Mary Gillick, adding important collectable interest.

As pre-owned bullion, coins may show minor handling marks, scuffs, or contact marks caused by normal storage and transport, but this does not affect their intrinsic value or gold content.

Mary Gillick's Coinage Portrait

The obverse of the 1968 Sovereign features the first of five coinage portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by British sculptor Mary Gillick.

Used on Sovereigns from 1957 to 1968, the design portrays the young Queen wearing a laurel wreath rather than a crown or tiara. The Gillick effigy is admired for its simplicity and grace, capturing a youthful monarch at the start of a long reign.

The portrait is entirely encircled by a legend which reads '+ ELIZABETH ∙ II ∙ DEI ∙ GRATIA ∙ REGINA ∙ F: D:' - Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.

Browse the range: Mary Gillick Portrait Gold Sovereigns

Saint George And The Dragon

The reverse of the 1968 Sovereign features Benedetto Pistrucci's timeless engraving of Saint George mounted on horseback slaying a dragon: one of the most iconic designs in numismatic history.

The dramatic scene, first used on British coinage in 1817 during the reign of King George III, has been a perennial presence on coins in the gold Sovereign series. The design depicts the legendary figure of St George raising his sword over the defeated dragon. The artist's initials—'B.P.'—appear just beneath the ground line, to the right of the date (1968).

1968 Sovereign Mintage Figures

Records show that in 1968, The Royal Mint struck a total of 4,203,000 Sovereigns. These were produced solely as bullion coins and were not intended for general circulation.

This issue is especially significant as it represents the final year of production featuring the Mary Gillick portrait, which had been in use since 1953. After 1968, Sovereign production paused for several years, resuming only in 1974 with a new portrait by Arnold Machin.

No proof Sovereigns or Half Sovereigns were issued in 1968, and no commemorative sets exist from this year, making the standard bullion Sovereign the only format available.

What Is A 1968 Gold Sovereign Worth?

The value of a 1968 Sovereign is determined primarily by the current market price of gold, as each coin contains 7.31 grams of pure precious metal.

While most 1968 coins are traded as bullion, some collectors may pay a small premium due to the status of these Sovereigns as the final Gillick portrait issue. Prices vary depending on the spot gold price and general demand, with reputable dealers applying only a modest margin over melt value. Coins in particularly good condition may attract slightly higher prices, but overall, this is a bullion-grade investment coin.

Collecting Modern Bullion Sovereigns

The 1968 Sovereign is a key date for collectors assembling a run of early Queen Elizabeth II Sovereigns.

Gillick's uncrowned portrait was featured on bullion Sovereigns from 1957 to 1968, though the coin was not issued in 1961 or 1962. With just ten years to collect, this date run represents a fairly straightforward series to complete, with high-grade examples of each Sovereign from this period available for not much over the gold price.

These coins, including the 1968 issue, are the final pre-decimal Sovereigns, struck in the last years before the UK formally decimalised its currency in a process that culminated with Decimal Day in 1971.