Gold Sovereign 1/2 coin

As the name suggests, this coin is exactly half the size of the classic full version. It is struck less frequently, but is particularly popular with some investors due to its lower weight and more accessible entry price.

The Gold Sovereign is one of the most recognisable and widely traded gold coins in the world and has been struck by The Royal Mint since 1817. The Half Sovereign contains 3.66 grams of fine gold with a purity of 22 carats (91.67%) and a total weight of 3.99 grams. The full Sovereign therefore weighs 7.99 grams and contains 7.32 grams of fine gold.

Each Gold Sovereign holds official legal tender status as a royal coin and is regarded as an icon of the British monetary system. The modern, standardised version as we know it today has been issued by The Royal Mint since 1817. The famous reverse depicts Saint George slaying the dragon, a design by Benedetto Pistrucci that has remained virtually unchanged for over 200 years. Thanks to its international recognition, high liquidity and historical significance, the Sovereign is considered a safe investment in physical gold.

The Royal Mint is renowned for its consistent production quality and precise finishing. Over the years, various British monarchs have appeared on the obverse of the coin, giving each issue its own historical context. We supply this coin in a variety of years; the specific year you receive is not known in advance.

Delivery and Packaging

• Insured shipping or collection by appointment in Alkmaar, Rotterdam or Tilburg
• Individually packaged in a protective plastic coin sleeve
• Secure and insured storage available via Holland Gold Safe

Why choose the Gold Sovereign 1/2 coin

• 22 carat gold (91.67% purity)
• Globally recognised
• Classic and historic design
• Easy to sell thanks to its convenient size

Design

The Half Sovereign follows the same design and historical framework as the full Sovereign. The design of the Half Gold Sovereign has made it one of the most recognisable coins in history. The reverse, depicting Saint George slaying the dragon and designed by Benedetto Pistrucci in 1817, has been used virtually unchanged for over 200 years.

Although the obverse changed over time with each new monarch, the nominal value of half a pound has remained unchanged since 1817, regardless of the reigning sovereign or year of issue. This made the Sovereign a trusted coin for a long time: as long as it circulated, everyone knew that a Half Sovereign always represented exactly half a pound.

In 1931, however, the United Kingdom abandoned the gold standard and the Sovereign ceased to function as a means of payment in everyday circulation. From that moment onward, the coin was no longer used for transactions, and its market value in pounds began to rise rapidly.

Over the years, various monarchs have appeared on the obverse of the coin. In chronological order, these include: George III (1817–1820), George IV (1821–1830), William IV (1831–1837), Victoria (1838–1901) with her well-known Young Head, Jubilee Head and Old Head, followed by Edward VII (1902–1910) and George V (1911–1932/33). After a long interruption, modern issues resumed from 1957 onwards featuring Elizabeth II (1957–2022) in multiple portrait variants. Since 2024, the most recent coins have also borne the portrait of Charles III. The combination of changing monarchs, a stable design and consistent quality makes the Half Sovereign appealing to both investors and collectors.

The Gold Sovereign: a store of value since the end of the gold standard

The final year in which the Gold Sovereign was considered a circulating coin was 1931, when one Sovereign was strictly equal to one pound. That same coin represents a value of over £750 on 30 November 2025, based on a gold price of £102.50 per gram. Anyone who saved in gold Sovereigns instead of paper pounds in 1931 preserved their purchasing power and even achieved substantial gains. This clearly demonstrates that gold retains its value, while the British pound has lost more than 99.5% of its purchasing power since abandoning the gold standard.

Price and Sell-Back Value

Would you like to sell your gold coins? Holland Gold offers a buyback guarantee on this coin. We also purchase coins that were not originally bought from us. On our website, under the section “sell to us”, you can see the price we currently pay for this coin