Gold British Sovereign Coin

The gold British Sovereign can trace its history to Henry VII (1485-1509) who issued the first 20-shilling gold coin in 1489. The minting of the British Sovereign was suspended shortly after James I ascended to the throne of England in 1603. More than 200 years later, gold Sovereigns were once again struck commencing with George III in 1817.

In the 19th Century, the Master of the Mint commissioned his protégé, Royal Mint engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, to create the now-classic image of St. George and the dragon for the reverse (back) of this coin. In 1890, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Goschen, declared: “Nothing, in my opinion, is more handsome than St. George and Dragon.” From the time of Queen Victoria until Britain went off the gold standard, British Sovereigns were minted as circulating gold coins with the stated value of one pound.

Design of the Gold British Sovereign – The obverse (front) of these gold British Sovereigns features the bust of the reigning king of the time. The bust is surrounded by words containing the name of the ruler followed by the words ‘D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:’. The reverse on each gold coin features a famous representation of St. George on horseback slaying a mythical dragon. The date and Mint Mark appear beneath St. George.

Goldline offers both circulated and uncirculated versions of these magnificent gold coins from the reigns of British Kings and Queens.