First introduced by Henry VIII in 1544, the British Gold Half Sovereign is one of the longest running gold coin series in history. Containing .1177 Troy Ounces of .913 Pure Gold, the Modern Half Sovereign is .99 mm thick, with a diameter of 19.3 mm.

Roughly the size of a nickel, each coin bears a depiction of the reigning monarch at the time it was minted–hence its name, the Sovereign.

The obverse of Gold Half Sovereigns issued from 1911 to 1936 feature a left-facing portrait of King George V. It is inscribed in Latin, which translates to mean: “George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.”

King George (b. 1865) was the grandson of beloved Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He reigned through the turbulent years of the First World War, until his death in 1936. George V was the cousin of his lookalike, the ill-fated Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, along with the German Emperor and King of Prussia, Wilhelm II.

The reverse of each Half Sovereign features Benedetto Pistrucci’s St. George–the legendary Christian military saint and martyr–as he slays the dragon. Pistrucci (b. 1783 – 1855) was Chief Medalist at the Royal Mint, and his initials appear just under the fiery dragon.

Suspended from 1604 to 1816 and replaced with Guineas and Unites, the Gold Half Sovereign was reintroduced with the Recoinage Act of 1816. Production resumed for another hundred years. Though mintage curtailed after Great Britain abandoned the gold standard during WWI, regular-issue Half Sovereigns were struck until 1926. After that time, only special issues were minted through 1980, and commemorative, proof and bullion Half Sovereigns are produced to this day.

Gold Half Sovereigns are available through Provident Metals and arrives in XF condition or better, dates of our choice. Designs may vary slightly from those pictured.