The Royal Mint’s 1925-dated Gold Sovereign coin is a historical release with a fascinating twist. While these coins display the date of the last sovereign struck at The Royal Mint in London during the reign of King George V, the coins were actually struck from 1949 to 1951 under King George VI. Distinguished from original 1925 sovereigns by noticeably higher rims, the 1949-51 restrikes are extremely with fewer than 900,000 issued.
Fascinating tale of ‘world’s most famous gold coin’
The Royal Mint struck its last George V sovereign in 1925, however demand for sovereigns on the bullion market increased dramatically after World War II. Many counterfeits were produced as the sovereign became respected as ‘the world’s most famous gold coin’. It is believed that, due to time constraints regarding approvals to issue George VI sovereigns and the creation of new dies, the Mint used the dies employed for the last year of sovereign production – 1925.
Historic St George Design
In superb Choice Uncirculated condition, the coin’s reverse portrays Benedetto Pistrucci's classic St George and the dragon design with the wyvern-like dragon being trampled by St George’s warhorse. The coin features a large uncrowned bust of King George V facing left on its obverse.
Presentation Packaging
Each coin is housed in an elegant black timber case and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
The Australian Minted Gold Sovereign Series 1855 – 1931 consists of 9 different types. The Sydney Mint Type 1 (1855 -1856), Sydney Mint Type 2 (1857 – 1870), Victorian Young Head Shield Reverse (1871 – 1887), Victorian Young Head St George Reverse (1871 – 1887), Victorian Jubilee Head (1887 – 1893), Victorian Veiled Head (1893 – 1901), King Edward VII, (1902 – 1910), King George V Large Head (1911 – 1928) and King George V Small Head (1929 – 1931).
The later King George V Sovereigns are either Very Scarce or Rare due to the mints cutting back on mintages. Dates: 1919M, 1920M & S, 1921S & M, 1922S & M, 1923S, 1924S & P, 1925P, 1926P, S & M, 1927P, 1928M & P, 1929M, 1930M & 1931M.
Sovereigns could be produced at one mint, two mints or at all mints, and when enough coins were thought to be in circulation no sovereigns were produced at all. Australian Sovereigns can be collected by Date, Type, and Mint mark or by a combination of these.