British Sovereign Gold Coin

The sovereign was minted for the first time in 1817 under King George III, even though there was already an English gold coin called a sovereign in the 15th century. Besides England, sovereigns were also minted in India, Canada, South Africa and Australia.

Until the First World War in 1917, and in South Africa even until 1932, the Sovereign coins were quite normal circulation coins. And even today, the gold coins continue to be formally valid means of payment in Great Britain and other former British colonies and Commonwealth countries.

However, the material value today is a multiple of the face value. Since 1957, the Gold Sovereign has been issued by the Royal Mint as a bullion coin.

Queen Elizabeth II & Saint George

Gold Sovereign coins always show a portrait of the current British regent on the obverse. After Queen Elizabeth II sat on the British throne from 1957-2022, the portrait of the Queen was carefully adjusted several times over the years. The next Souvereign coins will appear in the future with King Charles II.

The reverse of most vintages is decorated with an image of St. George fighting the dragon, based on a design by Benedetto Pistrucci. He had designed it for the first sovereign of 1812 and his initials B.P. can also be found next to the year.

In the meantime, however, the coat of arms of the United Kingdom was also to be found on the reverse, while the reverse sides could also differ depending on the mint. In recent years, there have also been variations on the reverse of commemorative coins for anniversaries, such as more modern depictions of St. George.

Commonwealth bullion coin

The Gold Sovereign can be called the "Queen's Ducat", as this bullion coin is as widespread not only in Great Britain but throughout the Commonwealth and the former British colonies as a gold investment alongside the Canadian Maple Leaf as the gold ducat is here.

While a collector's value above the material value can certainly be paid for older vintages - when the gold value of Sovereign gold coins rose above the rate of the pound, many of them were melted down - the current Sovereign mintages are traded close to the gold price and are therefore perfectly suited as investment coins.

Sovereign coins buy online or at Gold&Co in Vienna

You can buy the sovereigns from the UK directly from home here in the online store. With one click the current price is fixed for you. If you would like to buy gold sovereigns locally, feel free to come to one of our branches in Vienna and let our experts advise you in detail about sovereigns, gold investment and other precious metals.