Gold Half Sovereign (Best Value)

Our best-value, pre-owned Half Sovereigns make a great investment.

History of Half Sovereigns

The first Half Sovereigns were struck during the reign of Tudor king Henry VIII. Centuries later, a new gold coin bearing this name was introduced, following a major overhaul of British coinage. This Half Sovereign, first minted in 1817, alongside the first 'full' Sovereigns.

Half Sovereigns once circulated across the globe, a symbol of the British Empire, trusted to contain a known quantity of gold. They were minted in England but also at branch mints in Australia and South Africa. 

These coins fell out of circulation in Britain with the start of the First World War and regular production tailed off in 1926. Only special coronation issues were struck until The Royal Mint began offering a limited number of Half Sovereigns again in 1980. Today these coins can be bought new with proof and bullion finishes and a healthy market thrives for historic issues.

22 Carat Gold Coins

Half Sovereigns are exactly half the weight of a 'full' Sovereign.

They are composed of 3.994 grams of 22 carat gold. That equates to a gold weight of 3.66 grams or .1176 troy ounces. Half Sovereigns measure 19.30 millimetres in diameter and have a nominal face value of half a pound sterling (50p) but their gold content gives them a value well in excess of this.

This specification was established all the way back in 1817 and has been carefully followed for more than two hundred years. In fact, it was their consistent gold content that made Half Sovereigns a globally influential bullion coin, long before the introduction of Britannias or Krugerrands.

Centuries of Coinage Designs

Over the decades a range of different designs have appeared on Half Sovereigns.

The first modern Half Sovereigns featured a portrait of George IV and a now famous reverse, featuring England's patron saint - St George - in the act of slaying a dragon from horseback. This design by Benedetto Pistrucci has become closely associated with coins in the Sovereign family but many of these gold coins minted during the reign of Queen Victoria featured a shield of arms reverse - you might hear these referred to as 'shield backs'.

When you order our best value Half Sovereigns you could receive coins from the reigns of several British monarchs. Our bullion stock includes Victorian Half Sovereigns (including Jubilee Head and Veiled Head portraits) and gold coins from the reigns of George V and Elizabeth II. It just depends on our current stock.

If you're looking for a specific year or design we can help with that too: use our search box (above) or contact us and we'll help you source the coins you're looking for.

Why Invest In Half Sovereigns?

Half Sovereigns are a great investment choice for several reasons:

• The 22 carat gold composition of Half Sovereigns offers the intrinsic security of precious metal as a way of storing wealth
• Their relatively low weight of 3.99 grams means that prices for bullion Half Sovereigns are accessible
• Half Sovereigns are instantly recognised by gold buyers, meaning you can liquidate your holdings with minimal fuss for a guaranteed return
• As they are composed of investment grade gold, Half Sovereigns are exempt from VAT in the UK and the European Union
• An additional tax benefit: Half Sovereigns are technically legal tender in the UK, making them exempt from Capital Gains Tax

Best Value Bullion Range

Our best value range offers our lowest margin over spot on coins and bars. These aren't collectors pieces: they're offered for investors and they're guarantees to contain a consistent and significant amount of gold.

The Britannia Coin Company is staffed by an expert team who've been buying and selling gold for years. We use high tech kit like XRF machines to authenticate our Half Sovereigns, as well as our decades of experience to ensure you receive genuine coins.

These Half Sovereigns are graded Good to Fair. You won't receive any ex-jewellery mount coins but you might find your coins exhibit minor edge dings or surface scratches. These do not effect the weight.

Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific year or monarch when you buy our mixed-date bullion Half Sovereigns. We do, however, have a range of historic and modern Half Sovereigns, including proof coins available by year across our site to add to your collection. Have a browse or contact us if there's a particular coin you're looking for.

Fast Delivery Worldwide

We'll post Half Sovereigns to (almost) anywhere in the world, packed securely and discretely.

Delivery to UK addresses is free. When you order gold Half Sovereigns from us we'll send your package via Royal Mail Special Delivery. This is a next day service (delivered before 13.00) and a signature will be required.

We charge a flat £15 postage fee for international deliveries, regardless of the size of your order. The current list of countries we can't ship to can be found on our delivery page.

Where possible, we ship out items within 24 hours of an order being made, Monday to Friday. If there is a delay in dispatching your coins we'll contact you via the email address provided at check out.

If you're local to us you're welcome to pick up your order from our shop in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. We're based inside Old Bank Antiques on the High Street though we also operate a secure counter, located at the side of the building on Station Road.

Sell Your Sovereigns

Looking to sell your Half Sovereigns or other gold coins? We buy Half Sovereigns in any condition and we'll pay a premium for rare dates and high grades. Visit our selling guide for more info then get in touch: we offer fast cash for Half Sovereigns and lots of other coins either over our counter in Royal Wootton Bassett or by bank transfer.