A fascinating 1982 UK gold Half Sovereign from The Royal Mint.
What Is The First Elizabeth II Half Sovereign?
The earliest Half Sovereigns were struck during the reign of Tudor king, Henry VII. These large hammered coins didn't circulate much but their successors, the first modern Half Sovereigns, certainly did. From their introduction in 1817, the Half Sovereign has had the same specification, containing 3.99 grams of 22 carat (916.7) gold and showing a diameter of 19.30 millimetres.
Through the Victorian age, Half Sovereigns were minted annually but circulation tailed off in the early twentieth century. The tradition was revived in 1980 when the Royal Mint issued the first modern proof Half Sovereign. An uncirculated Half Sovereign followed in 1982 but the tradition of striking these fractional Sovereigns for the investment market would not pick up again until 2000, making this issue an outlier among Elizabeth II Half Sovereigns.
Arnold Machin's Royal Portrait
The obverse of the 1982 Half Sovereign shows the second definitive coinage effigy of Her Majesty the Queen, as used on her British money. It’s the work of Arnold Machin and can been seen on change dated 1968 to 1984. There aren't many Half Sovereigns featuring the portrait though, indeed this is the only Half Sovereign issued as uncirculated to show the uncoupled, youthful profile.
This gold Half Sovereign is one of very few to feature Arnold Machin's portrait of Elizabeth II.
Machin's portrait is paired with a much older engraving to the reverse, dating back to 1817 when the first Half Sovereigns were issued. It was designed by Benedetto Pistrucci and shows England's patron saint, St George, in the act of slaying a dragon which cowers under his rearing horses hooves. The date - 1982 - appears below.
Investing In 1982 Gold Half Sovereigns
This 1982 Half Sovereign comes in uncirculated condition. Our individual date Half Sovereigns are all graded about Extremely Fine (aEF) or above. They might show minor bag marks but nothing that would impact the weight or detract from the design.
Like all our gold coins, this one is carefully authenticated by our team to ensure its the genuine article using XRF technology and our decades of experience.
You'll receive this coin in a protective slip and we'll carefully package that for shipping which is free in the UK.
You might also be interested in our best value, mixed year Half Sovereigns at our lowest price over spot. Like those, this 1982 gold Half Sovereign benefits from being VAT and Capital Gains Tax exempt.
How To Sell A 1982 Half Sovereign
Want cash for your 1982 gold Half Sovereign? We can pay you fast for your gold, silver and base metal coins either in person at our gold counter in Wiltshire or via bank transfer. Visit our Sell Your Coins page for details.
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.
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 24 hours of receipt, Monday to Friday. 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. Its 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).
