Sovereign: value today
The Sovereign is the classic British gold coin, struck since 1817 and still produced today. Below is its gold value at the current price, refreshed every minute, with the specifications and what to know when buying or selling.
Value of the Sovereign today
| Variant | Fine weight | Metal value now |
|---|---|---|
| Full Sovereign | 7.322 g | — |
| Half Sovereign | 3.661 g | — |
| Double Sovereign | 14.644 g | — |
| Quintuple Sovereign (£5) | 36.61 g | — |
What is a Sovereign?
The Sovereign is a British gold coin with a face value of one pound, struck by the Royal Mint since 1817. It weighs 7.988 grams at 916.7 fine (22 karat) and contains 7.322 grams of fine gold, a little under a quarter of a troy ounce. The half Sovereign contains half of that: 3.661 grams.
The reverse usually shows Benedetto Pistrucci's St George and the dragon; the obverse the reigning monarch. Sovereigns from Victoria, Edward VII and George V are traded as bullion alongside modern issues.
Specifications
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Mint | Royal Mint |
| Since | 1817 |
| Gross weight | 7.988 g (full), 3.994 g (half) |
| Fineness | 916.7 (22 karat) |
| Fine weight | 7.322 g / 3.661 g |
| Diameter | 22.05 mm / 19.30 mm |
| VAT in the EU | Exempt (investment gold); also CGT-free in the UK |
History
The modern Sovereign dates from the Great Recoinage of 1816 and was Britain's circulating gold coin until the First World War, struck not only in London but in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Ottawa, Bombay and Pretoria. After 1917 it became a bullion and reserve coin; production resumed for investors in 1957 and has continued, with occasional gaps, to this day. Its long history means that common dates trade at gold value while rare dates and mint marks can be worth many times their metal.
Buying, selling, VAT and tax
Premium. Small coin, so a higher premium in percent than an ounce coin; older bullion-grade Sovereigns are often cheaper than new ones. Dealers pay around spot when buying back common dates.
VAT and tax. Investment gold, VAT-exempt across the EU. In the UK the Sovereign is legal tender and exempt from capital gains tax; in the Netherlands it counts as a box 3 asset on 1 January. Information, not advice.
Authenticity. 7.988 g and 22.05 mm; the milled edge and the crisp St George are hard to fake, and a magnet must do nothing.
Track your own Sovereign in Aevumex
Put your coins and bars in a vault readable only on your device. The app values them every minute, keeps your purchase price and receipt, alerts you at your price and prepares the tax overview. Free up to five items.
FAQ: Sovereign
How much is a Sovereign worth?
The gold price per gram times 7.322 grams of fine gold; the live value is at the top of this page. Common dates trade close to that, rare dates carry a collector premium.
How much gold is in a Sovereign?
7.322 grams of fine gold in a coin of 7.988 grams at 916.7 fine. A half Sovereign contains 3.661 grams.
Do I pay VAT on a Sovereign?
No. The Sovereign is investment gold and VAT-exempt in the EU.
Is an old Sovereign worth more than a new one?
In gold value they are equal. Rare dates, mint marks and coins in exceptional condition carry a collector premium; have an unusual coin appraised before selling it as bullion.
Can I track Sovereigns in the Aevumex app?
Yes, full and half Sovereigns are in the catalogue with the right fine weight; the app values them every minute and keeps your purchase price.
Other coins and bars
Source and method
The metal value is the fine weight times the spot price per gram, fetched every minute from metals.dev and converted to euro at ECB rates. See the gold price page for the chart going back ten years. Amounts are indicative; dealers charge a premium over spot and pay around or below spot when buying. Aevumex sells no metal and gives no advice.