Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal), Coin Type from United Kingdom (showing photos)

Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal), Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1817 - 1953)

Coin Type	Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal)

The half sovereign is an English and British gold coin with a face value half that of a sovereign: equivalent to half a pound sterling, ten shillings, or 120 old pence. Since the end of the gold standard, it has been issued only in limited quantities as a commemorative coin with a sale price and resale value far in excess of its face value. The main reason for this is because they are used, along with other coins of this type as bullion coins.

Obverse
Effigy of the monarch, legend.

Obverse Inscription

Reverse

Reverse Inscription

Edge	Milled	Edge Inscription	None

Notes

If you keep your coins in 2x2 cardboard holders, the best size for half sovereign coins is 20mm.

References to additional information:

[Book] Marsh, Michael A. The Gold Half Sovereign. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Coins, 1982.

Coin Type: Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal) - (100) Coins

Coin Name	Reverse	Obverse	Details
Half Sovereign 1817			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,080,197
Half Sovereign 1818			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,030,286
Half Sovereign 1820			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 35,043
Half Sovereign 1821			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 231,288
Half Sovereign 1823			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 224,280
Half Sovereign 1824			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 591,538
Half Sovereign 1825			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 761,150
Half Sovereign 1826			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 344,830
Half Sovereign 1827			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 492,014
Half Sovereign 1828			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,244,745
Half Sovereign 1831 (Proof only)			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: unknown
Half Sovereign 1834			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 133,899
Half Sovereign 1835			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 772,554
Half Sovereign 1836			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 146,865
Half Sovereign 1837			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 160,207
Half Sovereign 1838			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 273,341
Half Sovereign 1839 (Proof only)			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,230
Half Sovereign 1841			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 508,835
Half Sovereign 1842			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,223,352
Half Sovereign 1843			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,251,762
Half Sovereign 1844			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,127,007
Half Sovereign 1845			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 887,526
Half Sovereign 1846			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,063,928
Half Sovereign 1847			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 982,636
Half Sovereign 1848			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 410,595
Half Sovereign 1849			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 845,112
Half Sovereign 1850			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 179,595
Half Sovereign 1851			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 773,573
Half Sovereign 1852			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,377,671
Half Sovereign 1853			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,708,796
Half Sovereign 1854			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,125,144
Half Sovereign 1855			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,391,362
Half Sovereign 1856			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,391,909
Half Sovereign 1857			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 728,223
Half Sovereign 1858			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 855,578
Half Sovereign 1859			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,203,813
Half Sovereign 1860			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,131,500
Half Sovereign 1861			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,130,867
Half Sovereign 1862			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: unknown
Half Sovereign 1863			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,371,574
Half Sovereign 1864			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,758,490
Half Sovereign 1865			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,834,750
Half Sovereign 1866			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,058,776
Half Sovereign 1867			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 992,795
Half Sovereign 1869			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,861,764
Half Sovereign 1870			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,159,544
Half Sovereign 1871			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,062,970 - Sydney Mint: 180,000 Total Mintage: 2,242,970
Half Sovereign 1872			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 3,248,627 - Sydney Mint: 356,000 Total Mintage: 3,604,627
Half Sovereign 1873			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 1,927,050 - Melbourne Mint: 165,034 Total Mintage: 2,092,084
Half Sovereign 1874			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,884,432
Half Sovereign 1875			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 516,240 - Sydney Mint: 252,000 Total Mintage: 768,240
Half Sovereign 1876			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,785,187
Half Sovereign 1877			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,197,482 - Melbourne Mint: 140,000 Total Mintage: 2,337,482
Half Sovereign 1878			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,081,941
Half Sovereign 1879			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Sydney Mint: 220,000 - Royal Mint London: 35,201 Total Mintage: 255,201
Half Sovereign 1880			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 1,009,049 - Sydney Mint: 80,000 Total Mintage: 1,089,049
Half Sovereign 1881			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Sydney Mint: 62,000 - Melbourne Mint: 42,000 Total Mintage: 104,000
Half Sovereign 1882			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 106,000 - Sydney Mint: 52,000 Total Mintage: 158,000
Half Sovereign 1883			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,870,457 - Sydney Mint: 220,000 Total Mintage: 3,090,457
Half Sovereign 1884			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 1,133,756 - Melbourne Mint: 48,000 Total Mintage: 1,181,756
Half Sovereign 1885			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 4,468,871 - Melbourne Mint: 11,000 Total Mintage: 4,479,871
Half Sovereign 1886			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Sydney Mint: 82,000 - Melbourne Mint: 38,000 Total Mintage: 120,000
Half Sovereign 1887 Young head			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Sydney Mint: 134,000 - Melbourne Mint: 64,000 Total Mintage: 198,000
Half Sovereign 1887 Jubilee head			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 872,567 - Sydney Mint: 134,000 - Melbourne Mint: 64,000 Total Mintage: 1,070,567
Half Sovereign 1888 (Proof only)			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Melbourne Mint Mintage: unknown
Half Sovereign 1889			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Sydney Mint: 64,000 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 64,000
Half Sovereign 1890			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,266,023 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 2,266,023
Half Sovereign 1891			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 1,079,286 - Sydney Mint: 154,000 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 1,233,286
Half Sovereign 1892			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 13,680,486 - Melbourne Mint: unknown - Sydney Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 13,680,486
Half Sovereign 1893 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 4,426,625 - Melbourne Mint: 110,024 - Sydney Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 4,536,649
Half Sovereign 1893 St George			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 4,427,398 - Sydney Mint: 250,000 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 4,677,398
Half Sovereign 1894			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 3,794,591 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 3,794,591
Half Sovereign 1895			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,869,183 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 2,869,183
Half Sovereign 1896			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,946,605 - Melbourne Mint: 218,946 Total Mintage: 3,165,551
Half Sovereign 1897			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 3,568,156 - Sydney Mint: 230,000 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 3,798,156
Half Sovereign 1898			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,878,527 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 2,878,527
Half Sovereign 1899			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 3,361,881 - Melbourne Mint: 97,221 - Perth Mint: 1 Total Mintage: 3,459,103
Half Sovereign 1900			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 4,307,372 - Sydney Mint: 260,000 - Perth Mint: 119,376 - Melbourne Mint: 112,920 Total Mintage: 4,799,668
Half Sovereign 1901			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,037,664
Half Sovereign 1902			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 4,259,580 - Sydney Mint: 84,000 Total Mintage: 4,343,580
Half Sovereign 1903			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,522,057 - Sydney Mint: 231,000 Total Mintage: 2,753,057
Half Sovereign 1904			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 1,717,440 - Perth Mint: 60,030 Total Mintage: 1,777,470
Half Sovereign 1905			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 3,023,993
Half Sovereign 1906			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 4,245,437 - Sydney Mint: 308,001 - Melbourne Mint: 82,043 - Perth Mint: 1 Total Mintage: 4,635,482
Half Sovereign 1907			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 4,233,421 - Melbourne Mint: unknown Total Mintage: 4,233,421
Half Sovereign 1908			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 3,996,920 - Sydney Mint: 538,000 - Melbourne Mint: 405,034 - Perth Mint: 24,668 Total Mintage: 4,964,622
Half Sovereign 1909			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 4,010,715 - Melbourne Mint: 186,094 - Perth Mint: 44,022 Total Mintage: 4,240,831
Half Sovereign 1910			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 5,023,881 - Sydney Mint: 474,000 Total Mintage: 5,497,881
Half Sovereign 1911			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 6,107,870 - Sydney Mint: 252,000 - Perth Mint: 130,373 Total Mintage: 6,490,243
Half Sovereign 1912			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 6,224,316 - Sydney Mint: 278,000 Total Mintage: 6,502,316
Half Sovereign 1913			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 6,094,290
Half Sovereign 1914			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 7,251,124 - Sydney Mint: 322,000 Total Mintage: 7,573,124
Half Sovereign 1915			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 2,042,747 - Sydney Mint: 892,000 - Perth Mint: 136,219 - Melbourne Mint: 125,664 Total Mintage: 3,196,630
Half Sovereign 1916			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Sydney Mint Mintage: 448,000
Half Sovereign 1918			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Perth Mint Mintage: unknown
Half Sovereign 1923 (Proof only)			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Pretoria Mint Mintage: 655
Half Sovereign 1925			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: South African Mint Mintage: 946,615
Half Sovereign 1926			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Pretoria Mint Mintage: 806,540
Half Sovereign 1937 (Proof only)			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 5,501
Half Sovereign 1953 (not released)			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: unknown

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Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal): Details

Country	United Kingdom
Currency	Pound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Sub-types	Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal, Shield) Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal, St George)
From	1817
To	1953
Face Value	1/2 (x Pound)
Current	No (demonetised 1971)
Material	Gold
Designer
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Size	19.3000 mm
Thickness	0.9900 mm
Mass	3.9940 g

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Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal): Photos

Image	Details
	Coin - Half-Sovereign, George IV, Great Britain, 1824 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Source
	Proof Coin - Half-Sovereign, William IV, Great Britain, 1831 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Source
	Proof Coin - Half-Sovereign, George VI, Great Britain, 1937 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Royal Mint London, no mint mark (1893 - 1953). Source
	Coin - Half-Sovereign, George IV, Great Britain, 1824 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Source
	Proof Coin - Half-Sovereign, William IV, Great Britain, 1831 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Source
	Great Britain 1883 1/2 sovereign Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Stack's Bowers Notes: Queen Victoria, Young Head (1838 - 1887). Source
	Great Britain 1896 1/2 sovereign Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Stack's Bowers Notes: Queen Victoria, Veiled Head (1893 - 1901). Source
	Proof Coin - Half-Sovereign, George VI, Great Britain, 1937 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: King George VI (1937). Source

Half Sovereign (Pre-decimal), Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information