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British Gold Coins:
Great Britain has struck high
purity gold coins for hundreds of years. Right up until the gold standard
was dropped in the 20's British gold coins were actually spent, much like
high value banknotes of today.
After a few gaps, gold coins
are now struck every year and are still legal tender. However because of
the gold content the individual coins metal value is always worth more
than it's face value. Recently, gold coins have been struck in proof
quality and many gold coins, especially proof strikings, coins in mint
condition and coins with rarer mint marks are worth slightly more than
face value.
The information below shows
the purity and amount of pure gold in all British gold coins produced from
the Great Re-coinage of 1816, to now. The gold content is measured in Troy
ounces because that is normally how gold is measured (sorry if it makes no
sense with the metric coin weights!):
Denomination: Half
Sovereign. Diameter: 19.3mm. Coin weight: 3.994g. Purity: 91.66%
(22ct). Fine gold content: 0.1177oz.
Denomination: Sovereign.
Diameter: 22.05mm. Coin weight: 7.9881g. Purity: 91.66% (22ct). Fine gold
content: 0.2354oz.
Denomination: Two Pounds
(Double Sovereign). Diameter: approx 27-29mm. Coin weight: 15.9761g.
Purity: 91.66% (22ct). Fine gold content: 0.4708oz.
Denomination: Five Pounds
(not including Elizabeth II). Diameter: 36.02mm. Coin weight: 39.9403g.
Purity: 91.66% (22ct). Fine gold content: 1.1773oz.
Denomination: Five Pounds
(Elizabeth II Issues, sovereign type). Diameter: 36.02mm. Coin weight:
39.9400g. Purity 91.66% (22ct). Fine gold content: 1.1771oz.
Denomination: Five Pounds
(Elizabeth II Issues, crown sized gold versions of normally silver coins).
Diameter: 38.61mm. Coin weight: 39.9400g. Purity 91.66% (22ct). Fine gold
content: 1.1771oz.
Modern Britannia series
Bullion coinage:
Denomination: Ten Pounds.
Diameter: approx 16mm. Coin weight: 3.412g. Purity: 91.7% (22ct). Fine
gold content: 0.1oz.
Denomination: Twenty five
pounds. Diameter: approx 21-22mm. Coin weight: 8.513g. Purity: 91.7%
(22ct). Fine gold content: 0.25oz.
Denomination: Fifty Pounds.
Diameter: approx 27mm. Coin weight: 17.03g. Purity: 91.67% (22ct). Fine
gold content: 0.5019oz.
Denomination: One Hundred
Pounds. Diameter: approx 33mm. Coin weight: 34.05g. Purity: 91.7%
(22ct). Fine gold content: 1oz. |
Important Notes:
All proof gold coins are worth
more than bullion value if in mint condition. The gold coins of George VI
were only issued in small quantities, struck to proof standards.
Generally, George III - Victoria shield back sovereigns and half
sovereigns are worth more than bullion value unless very worn.
Generally, all 2 pound and 5
pound coins are worth more than bullion value unless very worn. Mint
condition half sovereigns and sovereigns are generally worth more than
bullion value with the exception perhaps with common Elizabeth II coins.
Normally sovereigns/half sovereigns are only collected by coin collectors
in mint condition but there are many rarer years and mint marks that are
worth more than bullion value.
This page should NOT be
used as a guide to the value of your gold coins. It just contains the
facts about the coin types and especially with the sovereigns of Victoria
- George V there are some rarer years with different mint marks/varieties
etc.
A note on Mint letters:
From the reign of Queen
Victoria to the Reign of King George V many gold coins (mainly Sovereigns
and Half Sovereigns) were produced in other world mints in British
colonial countries. These coins are identical to the coins produced in
Great Britain at the Royal mint, but to distinguish them a mint mark
consisting of a letter or letters will be visible on the coins struck
outside the UK.
The mint letters used were: M
for Melbourne, S for Sydney and P for Perth in Australia. C for Ottawa in
Canada, and SA for Pretoria in South Africa.
The letter/letters are very
tiny and on many of the St George reverse coins it is unfortunately the
first thing to wear away. On the coins of Victoria if a mint mark is
present it will either be right in the middle on the back of the coin
below the shield (above small flower) or under the Queens neck on the
front. With St George reverse coins the letter/letters are on the ground
under the horses rear right hoof (right in the centre of the coin, above
the date).
Below is a live chart showing
the current value of gold in GBP(£) per Kilogram:
This live chart shows the
current value of gold in GBP(£) per troy ounce:
Thankyou for reading this
page,
Chris
Perkins 18th December 2003. Updated 19th December 2005.
If you are not
sure what denomination a coin is maybe my identification guide will help.
See the main advice hub page.
If you have
any doubts, why not post a question in the
forum. |
