The first modern gold Sovereign: issued in 1817, late in the reign of King George III.
The First Modern Sovereign
Named for an earlier gold coin, issued by the Tudor kings, the first modern Sovereigns were issued in 1817, late in the reign on King George III. They were introduced as part of an overhaul of British money which came to be known as the Great Recoinage, instituted in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars.
The gold coins issued in 1817 established a set of specification used to this day. Full Sovereigns are composed of 7.988 grams of 22 carat gold, meaning they have a consistent gold weight of 7.322 grams of pure gold. Each coin measures 22.05 millimetres in diameter.
Sovereigns once circulated across the globe, a symbol of the British Empire, trusted to contain a known quantity of gold. Regular production ceased with the First World War, only resuming in 1957. Today, Sovereigns are offered annually though few are more sought after than those struck in 1817.
Saint George and the Dragon
The design used on the reverse of this gold coin has become synonymous with the Sovereign and is instantly recognisable to coin collectors.
Depicting a helmeted, spear wielding warrior, mounted on a horse which rears over a cowering dragon, this is Benedetto Pistrucci's interpretation of the legend of Saint George. The central motif is surrounded by a stylised garter which bears the motto of the Order of the Garter: 'HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE'. The spear would later be replaced with a sword and the garter dropped altogether.
This is paired with a right-facing, laureate portrait of George III by the same Italian artist with the date in the legend. As with all subsequent Sovereigns, the denomination is not mentioned on the coin at all.
Rare and Highly Sought After
A significant number of Sovereigns were struck in this year though many were melted down and few are available in good condition. More than two hundred years later, these coins are still being struck, making the first in the series a key acquisition for the serious collector.
This example shows the usual wear and hairline scratches for circulated gold. The details are clear, the reverse better: Grade: Approaching Fine (AF).
All Sovereigns are exempt from Capital Gains Tax as UK legal tender and free from VAT in the UK and EU as investment grade gold.
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 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).
