British Gold Sovereign
A royal portrait on one side, a changing story on the other. Explore the modern sovereign from 1817 onward, with a practical comparison of full and half sovereigns.
Explore this guide
Sizes at a glanceFrom Tudor sovereign to modern coinSt George, the dragon and the shieldRoyal portraits and mint detailsGold color and the 2026 bullion changesFull versus half sovereignCollecting, care and choosing a bezelCommon questionsGlossarySources and research notesSizes at a glance
The modern British gold sovereign began in 1817. It is a 22-karat coin best known for the reigning monarch’s portrait and Benedetto Pistrucci’s St George and the dragon design. The name reaches further back, to a much larger Tudor coin introduced in 1489, but that earlier sovereign is not the same size as the modern piece. [1]
This guide focuses on the full sovereign and includes the half sovereign for identification. Gold Coin Bezels carries full-sovereign bezels. We do not currently offer half-sovereign bezels.
Quick specifications
Gold content is measured in troy ounces. Throughout this guide, “oz” means troy ounces of fine gold, not the coin’s total weight.
| Gold content (troy oz) | Coin / nominal face value | Diameter | Listed total coin weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 0.2354 oz | Full sovereign / £1 | 22.05 mm | 7.98 g |
| About 0.1177 oz | Half sovereign / 10 shillings (£0.50) | 19.30 mm | 3.99 g |
Both coins use approximately 91.67% gold. Total weights follow the Royal Mint’s rounded listings. Gold-content figures are approximate; references may round them differently. A full sovereign is not a quarter-ounce bullion coin, and “half sovereign” does not mean half an ounce. [2] [3] [4]
Find your Sovereign size
Photographs are enlarged for identification and are not shown at actual or relative size. Full and half sovereigns can share similar artwork, so compare the measured diameter and total weight.
Half sovereign
10 shillings (£0.50) nominal face value
19.30 mm diameter
From Tudor sovereign to modern coin
Henry VII introduced the original sovereign in 1489 as an imposing gold coin associated with royal authority. The modern form arrived in 1817, during the coinage reforms following the Napoleonic Wars. Its smaller size and Pistrucci’s classical reverse created the type familiar today. [1]
That distinction matters when reading an auction description or family inventory. The word “sovereign” can connect coins across centuries without making their measurements interchangeable. For bezel selection, the modern full-sovereign format is the relevant starting point.
St George, the dragon and the shield
St George on horseback is the most familiar sovereign reverse, but it is not the only one. Shield designs also form an important part of the series. Under Victoria, Pistrucci’s St George returned in 1871 after a long absence, and shield and St George reverses overlapped for a time. [5]
A shield reverse should therefore prompt closer identification, not an automatic rejection of the coin as a sovereign. Look at the monarch, date and dimensions together. A reverse design can identify a period or issue, while the physical measurements establish whether it is the full or half denomination.
Special commemorative reverses add further variety. When a coin looks unfamiliar, establish the exact issue before comparing it with a standard St George example. Do not assume that every unusual reverse indicates a different diameter.
Royal portraits and mint details
Royal portraits give the series a visual timeline. Victoria’s principal portraits are commonly described as Young Head, Jubilee Head and Old Head. An individual coin’s portrait, reverse and date should be recorded together. [5]
Some sovereigns were struck outside Britain. For example, an 1887 Melbourne issue combines Victoria’s Young Head with a shield reverse and an “M” mint mark. Its published full-sovereign dimensions are 22.05 mm and 7.98 g. A branch-mint mark identifies where that issue was produced; it does not by itself make the coin a different denomination. [6]
If a small letter is difficult to read, keep it unresolved until you can inspect it clearly. Do not turn a blurred mark into a confident mint attribution simply because one mint seems more likely for the date.
Gold color and the 2026 bullion changes
Sovereigns can have noticeably different gold tones. The Royal Mint describes its 2026 collection as a return to traditional yellow gold after the more copper-toned appearance of recent issues. The gold standard remains 22 karat. [7]
The 2026 full bullion sovereign also introduced additional design-based security details, including a changing latent image on the obverse and microtext on the reverse. These are issue-specific features. They should not be expected on earlier sovereigns or assumed to occur on every proof or fractional issue. [8]
For identification, color is a supporting observation rather than the deciding test. Lighting, photography and the condition of the surface all affect how a coin looks on screen.
Full versus half sovereign
The half sovereign carries half the full sovereign’s gold content, but it is not half its diameter. Its 19.30 mm diameter is relatively close to the full sovereign’s 22.05 mm. A tightly cropped photograph can make the two look nearly identical. [2]
Use a ruler or suitable measuring tool carefully, without scraping the coin. If the coin is inside a capsule or already mounted, do not measure the outside of the holder and treat that as the coin diameter. Record what you have actually measured.
Our full-sovereign collection is not a substitute for a half-sovereign collection. If you have the smaller coin, do not select a full-sovereign bezel and try to make up the difference by tightening it.
Collecting, care and choosing a bezel
A sovereign can be a bullion holding, a collected historical issue or a family keepsake. Those uses call for different decisions about mounting. Check the date, mint and condition before treating an older piece as an ordinary jewelry coin.
Handle the coin by its edge and keep its surface free from polishing. Store an unmounted example in an appropriate protective holder. [9]
For a full-sovereign pendant, compare the product’s stated coin compatibility, closure and bail opening. The frame should hold the coin without requiring force. A protective holder and a wearable bezel serve different purposes, and mounting can affect the coin’s condition.
Common questions
Is a full sovereign a quarter-ounce coin?
No. Its fine-gold content is approximately 0.2354 troy oz, below one-quarter ounce. Its denomination and specifications come from the sovereign system. [3]
Do you sell half-sovereign bezels?
Not currently. The half sovereign is included here to help identify the smaller coin and prevent a size mismatch.
Must every sovereign show St George and the dragon?
No. Shield reverses and special commemorative designs are also part of the series. Compare the complete issue, not one design feature alone. [5]
Can two sovereigns have different gold colors?
Yes. Alloy appearance can vary, and the Royal Mint specifically changed the color presentation for 2026 while retaining the 22-karat standard. [7]
Glossary
- Full sovereign
- The standard modern sovereign denomination.
- Half sovereign
- A smaller denomination with half the full sovereign’s gold content.
- Effigy
- A portrait, usually of the monarch.
- Mint mark
- A letter or symbol identifying a mint or production origin.
Sources and research notes
[1] Royal Mint, 1817 George III Sovereign: origins of the modern coin
[2] Royal Mint, Gold Sovereign Sizes and Weights
[3] Royal Mint, The Sovereign 2017 Gold Bullion Coin: fine-gold content
[4] Royal Mint Auctions, 2007 Half Sovereign: half-sovereign gold content
[5] Royal Mint Museum, Victoria: portraits and reverse designs
[6] Royal Mint, 1887 Victoria Sovereign, Melbourne Mint Mark
[7] Royal Mint, The Allure of Yellow Gold
[8] Royal Mint, The Sovereign 2026 Gold Bullion Coin
[9] U.S. Mint, Caring for Your Coin Collection
The guide’s physical specifications cover modern full and half sovereigns, not Tudor sovereigns, double sovereigns or other larger denominations. Half-sovereign content is informational and intentionally has no shop link.
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Research and image captions reviewed November 4, 2026.