King George V Gold Sovereign

King George V Gold Sovereign

The King George V Gold Sovereign combines the investment benefits of Britain’s best-known gold coin with more than a century of history.

Struck in 22-carat gold, each full Sovereign weighs approximately 7.98g and contains 7.32g (0.2354 troy ounces) of pure gold. Like other Gold Sovereign coins, George V Sovereigns are VAT-exempt investment gold and, as British legal tender, are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK individuals.

These are pre-owned King George V Sovereigns in very good condition. Every pre-owned coin we sell is carefully checked for authenticity, quality and condition by our team, with sub-standard coins rejected.

The coin will be supplied loose. You can also purchase a Sovereign coin capsule to protect an individual coin or a Sovereign display case capable of holding up to ten full Sovereigns.

The image shown is representative of the type and condition of coin you will receive rather than the exact individual coin.

King George V Sovereign history

George V succeeded his father, Edward VII, in 1910 and reigned until 1936. The first Sovereigns bearing his portrait were issued in 1911.

His reign encompassed an important period in British history, including the First World War and the Great Depression. George V Sovereigns are particularly significant because they were among the last Sovereigns to circulate widely as currency in Britain before gold coins largely disappeared from everyday use during the First World War.

Sovereigns bearing George V’s portrait were struck at several mints across the British Empire, creating a range of dates and mint marks that can also appeal to collectors.

For more detail on the different mints, designs and rare dates, read our complete guide to the King George V Sovereign.

George V Sovereign design

The obverse features Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal’s portrait of King George V facing left.

The reverse carries Benedetto Pistrucci’s famous depiction of St George slaying the dragon, one of the most recognisable designs in British coinage.

Two versions of the George V portrait were used during the Sovereign’s production. Earlier coins generally feature the original portrait, while later issues use a slightly smaller version. This change was introduced to improve the coin-striking process and reduce wear on the Mint’s dies.

Depending on the year and mint, individual George V Sovereigns can also carry different mint marks.

Why buy a King George V Gold Sovereign?

For investors, George V Sovereigns can offer an attractive balance between bullion value, tax efficiency and historical appeal.

Each coin provides:

• 7.32g of pure gold
• 22-carat gold purity
• VAT exemption as qualifying investment gold
• Capital Gains Tax exemption for UK individuals
• a highly recognisable and established British gold coin
• potential additional numismatic interest from its age, date and mint
• a smaller denomination that can make a physical gold holding easier to divide when selling.

George V Sovereigns will often carry a relatively modest premium compared with rarer historic Sovereigns, although the price of individual coins can vary according to availability, condition, date and mint.

If your priority is simply buying Sovereigns at a competitive premium rather than choosing a particular monarch, compare our complete range of Gold Sovereign coins.

Our expert opinion

The King George V Sovereign is a favourite at Physical Gold because it can offer a useful middle ground between a straightforward bullion coin and a more specialist collectable Sovereign.

George V Sovereigns are generally available at lower premiums than many older Edward VII Gold Sovereigns, while still offering the history and character of a pre-owned British gold coin.

For investors building a diversified physical gold holding, their relatively small size also provides useful flexibility. Rather than having to sell a larger gold bar or coin in its entirety, individual Sovereigns can be sold separately.

If you prefer gold bars rather than coins, you can compare our range of gold bars, including smaller denominations suitable for investors looking for similar flexibility.