Introduced in 2009, these small gold Royal Mint coins are sought-after by collectors
What Are Quarter Sovereigns?
Quarter Sovereigns are the smallest fractional Sovereign struck by The Royal Mint. These tiny British coins are a quarter of the weight of a 'full' Sovereign, weighing in at just 1.997 grams. Like their bigger cousins, Quarter Sovereigns are composed of 22 carat (916.7) gold.
Weight: 1.997 grams
Gold content: 1.83 grams / .0588 troy ounces
Diameter: 13.50 millimetres
Face value: 25p / Twenty-Five Pence
Modern gold Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns were introduced in the early nineteenth century. Pattern Quarter Sovereigns were made in the 1850s but did not circulated. The first Quarter Sovereigns were only minted in 2009 and have been issued in every year since. Initially, these coins were available individually in proof and an uncirculated bullion finish but latterly its only been possible to acquire Quarter Sovereigns in the larger four-coin and five-coin Sovereign sets released by the Mint.
What Do Quarter Sovereigns Look Like?
The design of Quarter Sovereigns mirrors other coins in the gold Sovereign family, scaled down for a smaller surface area.
Just two portraits have been used on the obverse of these coins. The first releases show Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of Her Majesty the Queen which was replaced in 2015 with a new profile by Jody Clark. The legend remains the same: 'ELIZABETH · DEI · GRA · REGINA · FID · DEF'. An alternate portrait by James Butler was used in 2016.
For the most part, the reverse of Quarter Sovereigns has shown Benedetto Pistrucci's St George and the dragon motif, engraved all the way back in 1817. For some proof issues the reverse design has been varied, notably in 2012, 2017 and 2022 but tiny privy marks were also added in 2020 and 2021.
Are Quarter Sovereigns Valuable?
Since The Royal Mint has only been striking Quarter Sovereigns for a few years, the prospect of collecting a complete set might be seen as more manageable than other British gold coins. That said, Quarter Sovereigns, particularly ones issued in recent years, can be hard to find individually as they were originally offered in limited edition sets.
That said, because these fractional coins have a lower gold content than either Sovereigns or Half Sovereigns they are generally more affordable by comparison. Proof Quarter Sovereigns in their original, individual presentation packaging are prized, as are examples that have been graded by companies like NGC. Both of these types of Quarter Sovereigns command higher prices.
Uncirculated Quarter Sovereigns are a good option if you're in the market for small gold bullion coins but since they were only issued in a couple of years and in limited numbers they can be hard to find.
How To Sell A Gold Quarter Sovereign
The Britannia Coin Company buys gold Quarter Sovereigns for market leading prices. Got Sovereigns, old coins or collectible Royal Mint pieces you want to sell? Visit our Sell Your Coins today to find out how you can get cash for your Quarter Sovereigns from home. Request a free, no-obligation quote today and get paid fast.