Our best-value, pre-owned Gold Half Sovereigns make a great investment.
History of Half Sovereigns
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, alongside the first 'full' Sovereigns.
Half Sovereigns once circulated across the globe, a symbol of the British Empire, trusted to contain a known quantity of gold. They were minted in England but also at branch mints in Australia and South Africa.
These coins fell out of circulation in Britain with the start of the First World War and regular production tailed off in 1926. Only special coronation issues were struck until The Royal Mint began offering a limited number of Half Sovereigns again in 1980. Today these coins can be bought new with proof and bullion finishes and a healthy market thrives for historic issues.
22 Carat Gold Coins
Half Sovereigns are exactly half the weight of a 'full' Sovereign.
They are composed of 3.994 grams of 22 carat gold. That equates to a gold weight of 3.66 grams or .1176 troy ounces. Half Sovereigns measure 19.30 millimetres in diameter and have a nominal face value of half a pound sterling (50p) but their gold content gives them a value well in excess of this.
This specification was established all the way back in 1817 and has been carefully followed for more than two hundred years. In fact, it was their consistent gold content that made Half Sovereigns a globally influential bullion coin, long before the introduction of Britannias or Krugerrands.
Centuries of Coinage Designs
Over the decades a range of different designs have appeared on Half Sovereigns.
The first modern Half Sovereigns featured a portrait of George IV and a now famous reverse, featuring England's patron saint - St George - in the act of slaying a dragon from horseback. This design by Benedetto Pistrucci has become closely associated with coins in the Sovereign family but many of these gold coins minted during the reign of Queen Victoria featured a shield of arms reverse - you might hear these referred to as 'shield backs'.
When you order our best value Half Sovereigns you could receive coins from the reigns of several British monarchs. Our bullion stock includes Victorian Half Sovereigns (including Jubilee Head and Veiled Head portraits) and gold coins from the reigns of George V and Elizabeth II. It just depends on our current stock.
If you're looking for a specific year or design we can help with that too: use our search box (above) or contact us and we'll help you source the coins you're looking for.
Why Invest In Half Sovereigns?
Half Sovereigns are a great investment choice for several reasons:
- The 22 carat gold composition of Half Sovereigns offers the intrinsic security of precious metal as a way of storing wealth
- Their relatively low weight of 3.99 grams means that prices for bullion Half Sovereigns are accessible
- Half Sovereigns are instantly recognised by gold buyers, meaning you can liquidate your holdings with minimal fuss for a guaranteed return
- As they are composed of investment grade gold, Half Sovereigns are exempt from VAT in the UK and the European Union
- An additional tax benefit: Half Sovereigns are technically legal tender in the UK, making them exempt from Capital Gains Tax
Best Value Bullion Range
Our best value range offers our lowest margin over spot on coins and bars. These aren't collectors pieces: they're offered for investors and they're guarantees to contain a consistent and significant amount of gold.
The Britannia Coin Company is staffed by an expert team who've been buying and selling gold for years. We use high tech kit like XRF machines to authenticate our Half Sovereigns, as well as our decades of experience to ensure you receive genuine coins.
These Half Sovereigns are graded Good to Fair. You won't receive any ex-jewellery mount coins but you might find your coins exhibit minor edge dings or surface scratches. These do not effect the weight.
Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific year or monarch when you buy our mixed-date bullion Half Sovereigns. We do, however, have a range of historic and modern Half Sovereigns, including proof coins available by year across our site to add to your collection. Have a browse or contact us if there's a particular coin you're looking for.
Fast Delivery Worldwide
We'll post Half Sovereigns to (almost) anywhere in the world, packed securely and discretely.
Delivery to UK addresses is free. When you order gold Half Sovereigns from us we'll send your package via Royal Mail Special Delivery. This is a next day service (delivered before 13.00) and a signature will be required.
We charge a flat £15 postage fee for international deliveries, regardless of the size of your order. The current list of countries we can't ship to can be found on our delivery page.
Where possible, we ship out items within 24 hours of an order being made, Monday to Friday. If there is a delay in dispatching your coins we'll contact you via the email address provided at check out.
If you're local to us you're welcome to pick up your order from our shop in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. We're based inside Old Bank Antiques on the High Street though we also operate a secure counter, located at the side of the building on Station Road.
Sell Your Sovereigns
Looking to sell your Half Sovereigns or other gold coins? We buy Half Sovereigns in any condition and we'll pay a premium for rare dates and high grades. Visit our selling guide for more info then get in touch: we offer fast cash for Half Sovereigns and lots of other coins either over our counter in Royal Wootton Bassett or by bank transfer.
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 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).
