Sovereign 1931, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

A gold coin (22.05 mm diameter with milled edge) featuring the effigy of King George V facing left; around, GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F:D: IND: IMP:.

The reverse features St. George on horseback holding a short sword in his right hand, the horse rearing to right over a fallen dragon which has a broken lance in its chest; in exergue, the date, 1931 and the artist's initials B.P.; the mint mark is in the ground above the middle of the date.

Not every date exists for gold sovereigns. The London mint virtually stopped producing sovereigns after 1916, except for 1925. From 1917, the branch mints continued to issue most of the sovereign production. In 1931 a total of three mints issued sovereigns, Melbourne and Perth in Australia, and Pretoria Mint in South Africa.

1931 was the last year that sovereigns were struck by the Melbourne Mint and the Perth Mint.

1931 sovereigns have a smaller head portrait of King George V. The earlier portrait had been used from 1911 to 1928 inclusive, the small head portrait was used from 1929 to 1932 inclusive, making these quite desirable from a type collectors point of view.