One of the most frequently traded gold coins in the UK is the British Sovereign. This coin is one of the most iconic coins in numismatic history. A huge favourite of bullion investors, coin collectors and history enthusiasts. Here are 10 interesting facts on the gold Sovereign coin and why UK investors choose to buy and sell Sovereign coins daily.
Although Sovereign coins are often thought as a 19th-century coin, they actually date back to 1489 when the first initial coin was struck under King Henry VII’s reign. The coin featured an image of the King in its design, with the Tudor rose on the other side.
What we now class as the “modern” Sovereign first debuted in 1817 during the Great Re-coinage under George III. This revival marked Britain’s return to the gold standard, with the coin valued at £1 (20 shillings).
British Sovereign coins are made from 22 carat gold (91.67% pure gold). With the weight of a Sovereign being 7.98g, each full Sovereign coin contains 7.31g of pure gold. The addition of copper to the gold increases durability, as gold is a soft metal. With the coins being circulated for everyday transactions it was essential they resisted wear. Modern Sovereigns today although not used regularly in everyday transactions, are still made from 22ct gold.
In 2022, a 2022 Sovereign coin was sent to space aboard a Virgin Galactic flight, marking the first time a sovereign orbited Earth.
Sovereign coins still remain legal British tender with a face value of £1, though their gold content as of 2025 is valued over £500. Although these coins are still classed as legal tender, you may struggle paying for your weekly shop at Tesco with a quarter Sovereign!
As classified as legal tender in the UK, this status allows UK based investors to purchase these and be exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on any value appreciation. This adds to the appeal of buying gold Sovereigns in the UK as an investment where tax won’t be due on profits.
The legendary and globally recognised, St. George and Dragon design on Sovereign coins was originally designed by Benedetto Pistrucci in 1817, symbolising triumph over adversity. The design was replaced by a heraldic shield from 1838–1874 (Queen Victoria’s early reign) due to Mint politics. These are commonly refereed to as “Shield Backs” amongst collectors.
Sovereign coins are minted in various sizes, see the below most common sizes.
The Royal Mint began to add more copper to the alloy mix that made up Sovereign coins, throughout the latter twentieth century and into the new millennium. The Sovereign coin had more of a redish hue than the previous more yellow colour. 2025 marks the last time the Royal Mint will be striking Sovereign coins in Rose gold, and the previously yellow colour will return in 2026. It’s important to note that any change in colour will not effect is 22ct gold content.
The lines on the edge of Sovereign coins are called reeded edges. This coin edge has an important use that was introduced to safeguard against coin clipping. Historically, small slivers of gold would be clipped off the edge of Sovereign coins and kept or cashed in reducing the coins weight and essentially steeling value from the coin. The coins milled edges also help prevent counterfeiting by providing a distinct tactile and visual feature that would be difficult to replicate without proper minting equipment.
Receive your prepaid, insured envelope to send your gold to us. Find out more visit Sell Gold Online
