Half Sovereign 1918, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Bare head of King George V facing left; around, the legend GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: (George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India); below on the neck truncation in tiny letters the artist's initials B.M.

St. George on horseback holding short sword in right hand, wearing a flowing cape, helmet and boots, streamer flowing from helmet; the horse rearing to right over fallen dragon which has a broken lance in its chest; the date, 1918 in the exergue; below exergue line at right the artist's initials B.P. (Benedetto Pistrucci).

The mint mark (P for Perth Mint) is in the ground under the horse's right hoof, above the middle of the date.

Half sovereigns from the Perth Mint bearing the date 1918 were all struck in later years - 1919 and 1920. This probably explains why Marsh lists Perth half sovereigns of 1919 and 1920 too (not attested anywhere) with reference IDs 535 and 535 and a note saying "not circulated".

The Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1649 - 1971 says that "4 specimens are known" while Krause lists "Estimated 200 - 250 pieces minted."

Not listed in Friedberg. Friedberg's "Gold Coins of the World" 2nd Edition however lists a Sydney half sovereign of 1918, not listed elsewhere.

References to additional information:

[Book] Marsh, Michael A. The Gold Half Sovereign. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Coins, 1982. pp. 47-51.