This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the 1968 gold sovereign. The last gold sovereign to portray a young Queen Elizabeth II and the last sovereign to be issued before decimalisation (in 1971).

The obverse of 1968 UK Gold Sovereign

Elizabeth II young head sovereigns were issued between 1957 and 1968 and are considered highly collectable due to the fact they were the last sovereign to depict a younger-looking Queen Elizabeth II. Although gold sovereigns were no longer issued for circulation after 1932, the production of gold sovereigns has continued in order to meet the growing demand for gold coins. There were no proofs minted of the 1968 gold sovereign and a total of 4,203,000 sovereigns were produced that year.

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A history of the gold sovereign

The first gold sovereign was minted in 1489 on the orders of King Henry VII. The idea was to make a statement in order to symbolise the countries strength and unity after years of civil war and turmoil. At the time it was the largest gold coin ever minted in Britain.

Following the King Henry VII sovereign, succeeding monarchs each chose to strike a new version of the gold sovereign as a way of displaying their own power and strength, however, this practice died out after the reign of Elizabeth I. It wasn’t until George III decided to replace the guinea with a new gold sovereign 214 years later that the coin was reintroduced into circulation. Since then the sovereign has gone on to become one of the UK’s most prized, most sought-after coins and it is still highly valued by many coin collectors today.

The reverse of 1968 UK Gold Sovereign

Why gold sovereigns make great investments

Gold sovereigns are one of Britain’s most striking and beautiful coins, reflecting a time when the country was still at the height of its strength. Collectors who value gold sovereigns typically appreciate the incredible wealth of history behind them as well as their stunning designs. For some investors, gold sovereigns represent a way to invest in physical gold without the requirement of having to pay Capital Gains Tax, as all British legal tender is tax-exempt. Other investors look to capitalize on the scarcity value of certain rare gold sovereigns and will often pay particular attention to rare dates and issues.

Due to the fact that gold sovereigns are classed as semi-numismatics, (coins whose value is based on their numismatic value as well their bullion value) they often trade above the gold value, making them attractive investments for collectors. Gold sovereigns are also fairly liquid should you need to raise funds quickly and investors from all over the world are interested in purchasing them which means that you won’t have any trouble finding a buyer.

To learn more watch our related video – “5 Reasons to buy gold sovereigns”

Purchase gold sovereigns through physical gold

We stock a huge selection of gold sovereigns including those produced from 1957-1968. Click here to browse our complete collection.  Whatever your requirements, whether you’re looking for single investment opportunities or help to select a mixed portfolio of gold bullion coins, we can assist. Why not give us a call on 020 7060 9992?

British Sovereigns have existed since ancient times, but the modern-day Sovereign has been minted since Great Recoinage of 1816. Sovereigns have been produced for each Monarch since this time with King Edward VII being no exception. In this article, we provide various facts and insights about King Edward VII sovereigns.

Date of King Edward VII Sovereigns

King Edward VII was king of the UK and British Dominions from 22^nd January 1901 through until 6^th May 1910. Therefore, King Edward VII Sovereigns were minted at this time with coins being available with dates from 1902 (when King Edward was crowned) until his death in 1910.

Sovereign design

This sovereign features the following design on the obverse/reverse:

• Obverse – The obverse features a portrait of Edward VII
• Reverse – The reverse displays a St. George and Dragon design

Where were they minted?

There are five possible mint locations for King Edward VII sovereigns, these are listed below with the quantities minted (around 200 million in total):

• London – 105 million
• Australia:
  • Melbourne – 31 million
  • Perth – 42 million
  • Sydney – 22 million
• Ottawa, Canada – Only 45,000

Production quantities by year

The following were the production quantities of gold sovereigns for each year:

• 1902 – 16.1 million
• 1903 – 19.9 million
• 1904 – 21.3 million
• 1905 – 16.4 million
• 1906 – 21.7 million
• 1907 – 29.3 million
• 1908 – 21.7 million
• 1909 – 21.8 million and
• 1910 – 32.3 million

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Use as £1 coin

Until the first world war sovereigns were used as £1 coins. The majority of the population could not afford to keep them as collectibles, so many sovereigns became worn through active use. Therefore, to this day the quality of sovereigns is extremely variable with matte proof and extra fine examples commanding a significant price premium.

Investment approach

The gold amount within a King Edward VII sovereign weighs about 0.2354 troy oz. (i.e. just less than quarter of an oz. When calculating as an investment it’s easy to see that a premium is paid for these Sovereigns over the market price for gold. This is the balance between the current gold price and its numismatic value. When buying coins like this it’s important to remember for your investment you are not only becoming a gold owner, but also will benefit from the future collectors’ demand for these Sovereigns. If in doubt just give us a call and we can advise on the best investment approach for your circumstances.

Buying King Edward VII Sovereigns through Physical Gold

If you are looking to buy this famous and highly collectible Sovereign, then why not contact us here at Physical Gold on 020 7060 9992? We, of course, stock this Sovereign, but what we hold does fluctuate, so contact us for our latest holdings and price. If you need a specific year or level of quality, please let us know.

Image Credit: James Shepherd

Pot of Gold Discovery

An incredible collection of valuable gold sovereign coins has been discovered hidden in an old piano.
The piano, originally sold in Essex in 1906, was sent for retuning and repairing by the current owners, when the life-changing hoard of coins was discovered hidden inside it.
Found just before Christmas, experts believe the coin collection was probably carefully hidden there as far back as 1915, and the value is said to be life-changing. It includes an undisclosed number of full and half sovereigns, dated 1847 to 1915.

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Peter Reavill, the Finds Liaison Officer at Shropshire Museums said it had “The potential of yielding a life-changing sum of money. It’s not the sort of money you would tuck away and forget,” he said. “It is a lifetime of savings and it’s beyond most people.”
Due to conclude later this month, the inquest has heard how the piano, made by Broadwood & Sons of London, was initially sold to a Messrs Beavan and Mothersole of Saffron Walden, Essex, in 1906.
Ownership of the piano between 1906-1983 is a mystery, with the coroner seeking information about its location during that period.

Declared as treasure
It will be decided on April 20^th whether the ‘pot of gold’ can be declared as treasure. The conclusion has been delayed to allow more time for anyone from the Essex area, with information about ownership of the piano, to come forward.
If the coroner believes they have been hidden with the intent of future recovery, the objects will qualify as treasure and be the property of the Crown. However, the Crown’s claim will be void, if the original owner or their heirs can establish their title to the find.
Daniel Fisher of www.physicalgold.com, said, Its not the first time I’ve heard of obscure places to store gold. Full sovereigns are worth anything between 250 – 300 each, so a significant find like this means someone out there is due to receive quite a substantial pot of gold.