About Extremely Fine or better 2016 Half Sovereigns, ready to ship today.
History of the Half Sovereign
The first Half Sovereigns were struck during the reign of Tudor king Henry VIII. Centuries later, a new gold coin bearing this name was introduced, following a major overhaul of British coinage. This Half Sovereign, first minted in 1817, established the specifications that are still strictly followed today.
All Half Sovereigns weigh 3.994 grams and are composed of 22 carat gold. That equates to a gold weight of .1176 troy ounces: exactly half that of 'full' Sovereigns. Half Sovereigns have a nominal face value of half a pound sterling but their gold content gives them a value well in excess of this.
Half Sovereigns once circulated across the globe, a symbol of the British Empire, trusted to contain a known quantity of gold. Regular production ended in 1926 with only special coronation issues struck until The Royal Mint began offering a limited number of Half Sovereigns again in 1980.
A New Royal Portrait
2016 Half Sovereigns are the first non-proof Half Sovereigns to feature a new effigy of Her Majesty the Queen, introduced to British coinage the previous year. It's the work of Jody Clark, the first Royal Mint engraver to create a definitive coinage portrait of a British monarch for over 100 years. It's the fifth such portrait to appear on Elizabeth II's money and shows her wearing the George IV State Diadem.
The effigy appears to the obverse alongside the legend 'ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF ·'.
It's paired with a reverse design that is instantly recognisable to anyone with a passing interest in British money. Crafted by Italian artist, Benedetto Pistrucci, for the first modern Sovereigns, the image of Saint George on horseback, finishing off a cowed dragon, has been a perennial presence on these gold coins ever since.
Top Quality Gold Coins
Your 2016 Half Sovereign will be carefully selected from our best stock. Each example is graded aEF (about Extremely Fine) or above. Extremely Fine coins carry very limited signs of wear and as such make a great choice when buying Half Sovereigns for gifts.
You have a range of options if you're considering a 2016 Half Sovereign:
All gold Half Sovereigns are exempt from Capital Gains Tax as UK legal tender and free from VAT in the UK and EU as investment grade gold.
Product Summary
Precious Metal Content:
3.66 (g)
Monarch:
Elizabeth II (1952- present)
Denomination:
Half Sovereign
Capital Gains Tax Status:
Exempt
Condition:
Grade: EF or better - Circulated coins with limited signs of wear
- 2016 gold Half Sovereigns
- First to feature Jody Clark's new royal portrait
- 3.99 grams of 22 carat gold
- 19.30 millimetre diameter
- Top quality bullion coins, graded aEF or better
- Carefully selected by our expert staff
- Obverse shows fifth effigy of Elizabeth II, introduced in 2015
- First time this portrait was used on non-proof Half Sovereigns
- Reverse features classic Saint George design
- VAT and Capital Gains Tax free
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.
We're The Britannia Coin Company: offering exceptional service and unbeatable value to all who collect and invest in coins. Part of Gold-Traders (UK) Ltd, we've earned a world-class reputation over more than a decade of buying and selling currency from new issues to ancient coins.
Buy with Confidence
All Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium coins we sell are 100% guaranteed authentic and, where relevant, are individually certified. We're members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity and expertise: just read some of our reviews.
When you buy online with the Britannia Coin Company, you're guaranteed a fully protected service. 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.
Our prices include fully insured delivery within the UK. Your purchase is covered from the moment you buy until it's in your hands. Orders are packed with care, tracked every step of the way, and require signature on receipt to ensure a safe delivery experience.
Visit our Showroom
We're based in Royal Wootton Bassett, a historic market town in beautiful Wiltshire. If the name rings a bell it's probably because you remember how the community honoured those soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 'Royal' in the name was granted in 2011 to recognise this.
Our new showroom – opened in 2020 – is located in the heart of Royal Wootton Bassett in a grand, old bank building. Inside you can view our stock, as well as jewellery and collectibles from several local antique dealers. Look out for the Old Bank Antiques sign and come on in.
If you're seeking to inspect a specific item you have seen online, give us a call ahead of your visit on 01793 205 007 so we can make sure it's ready for you to view. If you're collecting an order your payment should have cleared before you arrive and we may ask to see identification.
Get in Touch
Got questions? Our experts are ready to answer them. If you need more information before you make your purchase then please get in touch.
Call our showroom on 01793 205 007.
Drop us a line on coins@britanniacoincompany.com.
Visit us at 143 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 7AB.
