The Great Britain Gold Sovereign is one of the most significant gold coins ever struck due to its longevity of production and its global recognition. First issued in 1489 during the reign of King Henry VII, the gold sovereign has been struck regularly by the Kings and Queens of England since 1817. The Great Britain Gold ½ Sovereign Coin is currently available to you for purchase online today with JM Bullion.

Coin Highlights:

• Arrives inside of protective plastic!
• Issued intermittently since 1817!
• Contains .1177 Troy oz of actual gold content.
• Obverse features the reigning monarch appropriate for the date of issue.
• Reverse of most coins includes the image of St. George mounted on horseback.
• Issued by the Royal Mint.

These Great Britain Gold ½ Sovereign Coins from the Royal Mint have a different history than their Gold Sovereign counterparts. It was King Henry VIII of England who issued the first ½ sovereign gold coins in 1544, nearly 60 years after Henry VII introduced the concept of the Gold Sovereign coin.

As the production of Great Britain Gold Sovereigns again disappeared in 1608 during the reign of James I, these ½ Sovereign coins didn’t last long during their initial production. With the Great Recoinage of 1816, the ½ Sovereign returned alongside the Gold Sovereign in 1817. The ½ Sovereign has been issued from 1817 to 1937, discontinued, and reintroduced in 1980.

On the obverse of any Great Britain Gold ½ Sovereign Coin is the effigy of the ruling monarch of England during the time period that matches the date mark on the coins. The oldest possible ½ Sovereigns in this listing would feature the right-profile bust of King George III of England, the man famous for losing the North American colonies during the American Revolutionary War.

However, these Great Britain Gold ½ Sovereign Coins could also feature the bust of Queen Victoria I around the turn of the 20^th century, King George V who was the great-grandfather to Queen Elizabeth II, King George VI who was the father of Queen Elizabeth II. Of course, the right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, England’s longest-ruling monarch in history, could also feature on the coin you receive.

The reverse of most of these Great Britain Gold ½ Sovereign Coins will feature the famed depiction of St. George riding on horseback as he slays the dragon. This image was created in 1817 by Benedetto Pistrucci. Some coins issued during the reign of Queen Victoria I alternately feature a crowned shield or Pistrucci’s artwork.

We encourage JM Bullion customers to contact us with questions at 800-276-6508. You can also connect with us online through our live chat and email address.