1817 Gold Sovereign : George III

Further Information

This is the first issue of the 'modern' sovereign that is still produced today.

Following a substantial reorganisation of the Royal Mint by William Wellesley Pole, a range of new gold coins were approved by the Prince Regent. The denominations were to be the ten-shilling, twenty-shilling, forty-shilling and five pound pieces. Or, as we know them today, the half sovereign, full sovereign, double sovereign and £5 crown. At twenty shillings, the full sovereign carried a face value of £1.

On the obverse face, George III wears a 'crown' of laurel leaves, hence it is described as a laureate head. The laureate is tied at the back with a ribbon and formed into a bow. The now familiar image of St. George slaying the dragon by Benedetto Pisctucci graces the reverse. His initials can be found on the ground, just under the broken shaft of his spear. Below it, on the buckle are the initials WWP for William Wellesley Pole, the Master of the Mint.

The original 'sovereign', first produced in 1489 during the reign of Henry VII was a different coin altogether. At 15.55g, it was almost twice the weight of the modern sovereign and was minted in 23ct gold instead of 22ct which what it is today.