A Sovereign is a British gold coin family with a long history. The Tudor Sovereign was first issued under Henry VII in 1489. The modern Sovereign was reintroduced in 1817 as a 20-shilling, £1 coin.
What does a Sovereign look like?
The standard full Sovereign is 22-carat gold, weighs 7.98 grams and measures 22.05 millimetres. It contains approximately 7.32 grams of fine gold. Many modern issues use Pistrucci’s St George and the dragon reverse, although shield and commemorative reverses also exist.
Full, half and other sizes
A full Sovereign and a half Sovereign are different denominations. A modern half Sovereign weighs about 3.99 grams, measures 19.30 millimetres and contains approximately 3.66 grams of fine gold. Double, quarter and quintuple Sovereigns are related sizes in the Sovereign family.
A commemorative £5 crown is not automatically a quintuple Sovereign. Identify the denomination, metal, weight, finish and product before comparing coins.
Bullion, proof and historical issues
Modern Sovereigns may be bullion, circulating-quality, proof or commemorative products. Older dates can have different portraits, reverses and mint marks. The presence of a mint mark or a historic design does not by itself prove rarity or a higher value.
Value and legal tender
Compare recent completed sales of the same type and grade. Bullion or melt calculations are references, not guaranteed resale values. Legal-tender status does not make a coin worth its nominal denomination in the collector market, and non-circulating products may not be accepted by shops or banks.