Sovereign 1838 to 1901 - British Coins price guide and values - Coins and United Kingdom

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Sovereign - 1838 to 1901 - Price Guide

The first Sovereign was authorised by Henry VII in 1489, but was different in size and weight. Almost half the weight and diameter of the original Sovereign, the new gold coin of 1817 more than matched its predecessor in the beauty of its design. The traditional heraldic reverse was abandoned in favour of a St George and the dragon of classic beauty by the Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci.

The design combined of the new Sovereign set it apart from every gold coin that had gone before and it may be difficult to understand why, in 1825, it was dropped in preference of a more conventional royal arms. It was revived in 1871. Read more »

Click on a coin to view additional values, details and varieties about it.

Visit Coinsandcanada.com to find Canadian Sovereign coins price guide and values in ($CAD) and Coinsandaustralia.com to find Australian Sovereign coins price guide and values in ($AUD).

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Variety VG-8 F-12 VF-20 EF-40 AU-50 AU-55
1838 --$888$1,940$2,820$2,840
1838 - Narrow Shield --$4,310$9,000$17,200$21,300
1838 - Plain Edge ------
1839 --$1,270$2,450$3,550$4,140
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↓ ------
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↑ ------
1841 --$5,400$10,300$15,100$17,600
1841 - GRΛTIΛ --$4,570$9,500$15,500$18,400
1842 --$479$558$634$760
1842 - GRΛTIΛ --$558$964--
1842 - Open 2 --$479$479$698$818
1843 --$479$479$508$818
1843 - 3/2 --$479$711$1,070$1,240
1843 - Roman I --$685$1,270--
1843 - Narrow Shield --$4,690$9,500$15,700$18,800
1844 - Large 44 --$479$479$546$799
1844 - Small 44 ----$479$479
1844 - 4/Inverted 4 --$761$1,520$1,900$2,090
1845 --$479$723$751$774
1845 - 4/Inverted 4 --$761$1,520$1,900$2,090
1845 - Roman I --$736$1,420--
1846 - 4/Inverted 4 --$761$1,520--
1846 --$479$508$660$843
1846 - Roman I --$685$1,270--
1847 --$479$508$609$742
1847 - Inverted 1 ------
1847 - Roman I --$711$1,470--
1848 - 1st Head --$1,020$2,280$4,570$5,700
1848 - 2nd Head --$479$479$570$637
1849 --$479$479$495$668
1849 - Roman I --$685$1,270--
1850 --$479$508$527$684
1850 - Roman I --$685$1,270--
1850 - R/E in GRATIA ------
1850 - 8/5 ------
1850 - ⩝ictoria --$1,270---
1851 --$479$479$508$527
1852 --$479$479$479$579
1852 - Roman I --$685$1,270--
1853 - W.W. Incuse --$479$584$761$779
1853 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I --$685$1,270--
1853 - W.W. Raised --$479$479$504$579
1853 - W.W. Raised - F/E in DEF --$761$1,670--
1853 - W.W. Raised - ⩝ictoria --$1,270---
1854 - W.W. Raised --$479$482$902$919
1854 - W.W. Incuse --$479$479$508$525
1854 - W.W. Incuse - C/Rotated C --$761$1,670--
1855 - W.W. Incuse --$479$479$508$547
1855 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I --$660$1,470--
1855 - W.W. Raised --$479$479$571$635
1856 --$479$479$479$572
1857 --$479$479$479$541
1857 - ⩝ictoria --$1,270---
1857 - 7/5 -----$1,020
1857 - DEI GRΛ ------
1858 - 8/7 --$761---
1858 - Large Date --$479$479$533$571
1858 - Small Date --$479$479$533$558
1859 --$479$479$508$588
1859 - Ansell --$809$2,530$5,400$6,200
1860 --$479$479$479$493
1860 - Roman I --$660$1,470--
1860 - ⩝ictoria --$1,270$2,790--
1860 - DEI GRΛ --$660$1,520--
1860 - Large 0 --$479$479$508$571
1860 - O/C --$479$1,120--
1861 --$479$479$479$517
1861 - Roman I --$508$761--
1861 - C/Rotated C --$761$1,670--
1861 - T/V in Victoria --$479$761--
1861 - Repunched E & F ------
1861 - E/Rotated E --$761$1,670--
1861 - F/V in DEF --$508$1,270--
1862 - Wide date --$479$479$479$495
1862 - Narrow date --$479$479$479$495
1862 - Roman I --$508$990--
1862 - Wide date - F/⩝ --$508$1,270--
1862 - Narrow date - F/⩝ --$508$1,270--
1862 - R/E in BRIT --$761$1,670--
1862 - R/Inverted R in VICTORIA --$1,020$2,540--
1863 - With Die Number --$479$479$479$479
1863 - With Die Number - #827 and #22 --$4,760$8,300$11,700$13,400
1863 - With Die Number - #827 on Trun --$5,700$10,500$14,000$15,900
1863 - Without Die Number - Arabic 1 --$479$479$479$479
1863 - Without Die Number - Roman 1 --$508$990-$1,100
1864 - Roman I ------
1864 - Arabic 1 --$479$479$479$504
1865 --$479$479$479$507
1866 --$479$479$479$479
1866 - 6/5 --$479$508$634$698
1868 --$479$479$479$490
1869 --$479$479$479$498
1870 - W.W. Incuse --$479$479$479$495
1870 - W.W. Raised --$479$479$479$479
1871 - Shield --$479$479$479$479
1871 - St. George - Large BP --$479$479$479$479
1871 - St. George - Small BP --$479$479$479$479
1871 - St. George - Small BP - Plain Edge ------
1871 - St. George - Large BP - Plain Edge ------
1872 - Shield - With Die Number --$479$479$479$479
1872 - Shield - Without Die Number --$479$479$479$479
1872 - St. George --$479$479$479$479
1873 - Shield --$479$479$479$479
1873 - St. George --$479$479$479$479
1874 - Shield --$1,820$4,610$6,700$8,800
1874 - St. George --$479$479$479$479
1876 --$479$479$479$479
1878 --$479$479$479$479
1879 --$606$1,400$3,090$3,940
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP --$479$479$479$479
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP - 8/7 --$479$479$479$479
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP --$479$479$479$479
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP - 8/7 --$479$479$479$479
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Buried --$479$479$479$479
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete --$479$479$479$479
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete - 8/7 --$479$479$479$479
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP --$479$479$479$479
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP - 8/7 ------
1884 - W.W. Buried --$479$479$479$479
1884 - W.W. Complete --$479$479$479$479
1885 - W.W. Buried --$479$479$479$479
1885 - W.W. Complete --$479$479$479$479
1887 - Small Close JEB --$479$698$730$787
1887 - Normal JEB - Far G --$479$479$479$479
1887 - Normal JEB - Near G ------
1887 - Small Wide (spread) JEB --$479$698$730$787
1888 - Far G --$481$698$730$761
1888 - Near G --$481$481$481$481
1889 - Far G ------
1889 - Near G --$481$481$481$481
1890 - Far G ---$481$482$546
1890 - Near G --$481$481$481$481
1891 - Short Tail --$609$1,000$1,620$1,830
1891 - Long Tail --$481$481$481$481
1892 --$481$481$481$481
1893 --$481$481$481$481
1894 --$481$481$481$481
1895 --$481$481$481$481
1896 --$481$481$481$481
1898 --$481$481$481$481
1899 --$481$481$481-
1900 --$481$481$481$481
1901 --$481$481$481$481
Variety MS-60 MS-62 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67
1838 $3,830$4,410$6,600$13,000$13,700--
1838 - Narrow Shield $25,400------
1838 - Plain Edge -------
1839 $4,730$7,700$10,600----
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↓ -------
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↑ -------
1841 $20,000$24,400$31,700----
1841 - GRΛTIΛ $21,300------
1842 $866$1,510$2,460$3,190---
1842 - GRΛTIΛ -------
1842 - Open 2 $939$1,460$1,980----
1843 $841$1,420$1,850$5,800---
1843 - 3/2 $1,420$2,160$2,890----
1843 - Roman I -------
1843 - Narrow Shield $21,900------
1844 - Large 44 $828$1,510$2,190$3,990$8,000--
1844 - Small 44 -$1,240$1,930----
1844 - 4/Inverted 4 $2,280------
1845 $914$1,600$2,280$3,970---
1845 - 4/Inverted 4 $2,280------
1845 - Roman I -------
1846 - 4/Inverted 4 -------
1846 $926$1,600$2,280$4,340---
1846 - Roman I -------
1847 $784$1,220$1,860$2,330$14,600--
1847 - Inverted 1 -------
1847 - Roman I -------
1848 - 1st Head $6,900------
1848 - 2nd Head $758$1,450$1,820$2,330$7,000$11,700-
1849 $901$2,180$3,220$9,500$15,800--
1849 - Roman I -------
1850 $752$1,440$2,140$3,410$5,700$7,100-
1850 - Roman I -$3,350-----
1850 - R/E in GRATIA -------
1850 - 8/5 -------
1850 - ⩝ictoria -------
1851 $596$1,050$1,290$1,530$5,100$6,300-
1852 $643$1,140$1,610$1,680$6,100$10,500-
1852 - Roman I -------
1853 - W.W. Incuse $825$1,390$2,020----
1853 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I -------
1853 - W.W. Raised $606$1,020$2,090$4,770$4,810$4,850$14,700
1853 - W.W. Raised - F/E in DEF -------
1853 - W.W. Raised - ⩝ictoria -------
1854 - W.W. Raised $936$1,600$2,270----
1854 - W.W. Incuse $619$1,040$1,670$5,700---
1854 - W.W. Incuse - C/Rotated C -------
1855 - W.W. Incuse $594$1,020$1,620$2,590---
1855 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I -------
1855 - W.W. Raised $758$1,080$1,400----
1856 $643$998$1,460$2,040---
1857 $595$908$1,890----
1857 - ⩝ictoria -------
1857 - 7/5 -------
1857 - DEI GRΛ -------
1858 - 8/7 -------
1858 - Large Date $644$1,080$2,470----
1858 - Small Date $619$1,060$1,510----
1859 $619$1,100$1,460----
1859 - Ansell $8,300$10,900$13,700----
1860 $508$1,130$1,760$4,790$6,700--
1860 - Roman I -------
1860 - ⩝ictoria -------
1860 - DEI GRΛ -------
1860 - Large 0 $634$977$1,320----
1860 - O/C -------
1861 $523$807$1,110$4,020---
1861 - Roman I -------
1861 - C/Rotated C -------
1861 - T/V in Victoria -------
1861 - Repunched E & F -------
1861 - E/Rotated E -------
1861 - F/V in DEF -------
1862 - Wide date $511$845$1,390----
1862 - Narrow date $511$879$1,280$1,840---
1862 - Roman I -------
1862 - Wide date - F/⩝ -------
1862 - Narrow date - F/⩝ -------
1862 - R/E in BRIT -------
1862 - R/Inverted R in VICTORIA -------
1863 - With Die Number $479$770$878----
1863 - With Die Number - #827 and #22 $15,000------
1863 - With Die Number - #827 on Trun $17,800------
1863 - Without Die Number - Arabic 1 $485$851$1,270----
1863 - Without Die Number - Roman 1 --$2,570----
1864 - Roman I -------
1864 - Arabic 1 $523$800$1,070$1,650$7,100--
1865 $546$944$1,640$3,020$6,100--
1866 $523$831$1,260$3,200---
1866 - 6/5 $761$1,140$1,520----
1868 $511$789$1,120----
1869 $511$755$1,200$1,770$3,100--
1870 - W.W. Incuse $523$882$1,240----
1870 - W.W. Raised $498$804$1,090----
1871 - Shield $479$606$802$1,170$3,030--
1871 - St. George - Large BP $479$590$847$2,330---
1871 - St. George - Small BP $479$585$792$1,230$3,110--
1871 - St. George - Small BP - Plain Edge -------
1871 - St. George - Large BP - Plain Edge -------
1872 - Shield - With Die Number $479$604$787$975$1,820--
1872 - Shield - Without Die Number $479$612$767$795---
1872 - St. George $479$637$836$1,050$2,320$5,400-
1873 - Shield $479$689$837----
1873 - St. George $479$590$888----
1874 - Shield $10,000$18,100-----
1874 - St. George $479$590$847----
1876 $479$567$803$1,600$2,230--
1878 $479$595$847----
1879 $4,790$21,200$37,700----
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP $479$561$855----
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP - 8/7 $479$1,070$1,120----
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP $479$536$739----
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP - 8/7 $479$722$964----
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Buried $479$561$790----
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete $479$568$739----
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete - 8/7 $479$698$964----
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP $479$724$739----
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP - 8/7 -------
1884 - W.W. Buried $479$650$738$826---
1884 - W.W. Complete $479$566$701$1,660---
1885 - W.W. Buried $479$579$815----
1885 - W.W. Complete $479$755$805----
1887 - Small Close JEB $803$1,010$1,220----
1887 - Normal JEB - Far G $479$537$595$845$1,700--
1887 - Normal JEB - Near G ---$799$15,600$30,400-
1887 - Small Wide (spread) JEB $803$881$920$1,200$1,550--
1888 - Far G $803$1,010$1,220----
1888 - Near G $481$534$615$2,020---
1889 - Far G --$870----
1889 - Near G $481$496$512----
1890 - Far G $609$812$1,020----
1890 - Near G $481$486$487$1,460---
1891 - Short Tail $1,940$1,990-----
1891 - Long Tail $481$491$501$2,020---
1892 $481$481$481$1,890---
1893 $484$507$530$1,080$2,090$3,310-
1894 $481$481$481----
1895 $481$481$481----
1896 $481$568$655$2,920---
1898 $481$500$519$1,700$2,890--
1899 $481$551$622$3,180---
1900 $481$486$492$1,340---
1901 $481$739$998----
Variety PR-60 PR-62 PR-63 PR-64 PR-65 PR-66 PR-67
1838 -------
1838 - Narrow Shield -------
1838 - Plain Edge -------
1839 -------
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↓ -------
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↑ -------
1841 -------
1841 - GRΛTIΛ -------
1842 -------
1842 - GRΛTIΛ -------
1842 - Open 2 -------
1843 -------
1843 - 3/2 -------
1843 - Roman I -------
1843 - Narrow Shield -------
1844 - Large 44 -------
1844 - Small 44 -------
1844 - 4/Inverted 4 -------
1845 -------
1845 - 4/Inverted 4 -------
1845 - Roman I -------
1846 - 4/Inverted 4 -------
1846 -------
1846 - Roman I -------
1847 -------
1847 - Inverted 1 -------
1847 - Roman I -------
1848 - 1st Head -------
1848 - 2nd Head -------
1849 -------
1849 - Roman I -------
1850 -------
1850 - Roman I -------
1850 - R/E in GRATIA -------
1850 - 8/5 -------
1850 - ⩝ictoria -------
1851 -------
1852 -------
1852 - Roman I -------
1853 - W.W. Incuse ----$51,400--
1853 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I -------
1853 - W.W. Raised -------
1853 - W.W. Raised - F/E in DEF -------
1853 - W.W. Raised - ⩝ictoria -------
1854 - W.W. Raised -------
1854 - W.W. Incuse -------
1854 - W.W. Incuse - C/Rotated C -------
1855 - W.W. Incuse -------
1855 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I -------
1855 - W.W. Raised -------
1856 -------
1857 -------
1857 - ⩝ictoria -------
1857 - 7/5 -------
1857 - DEI GRΛ -------
1858 - 8/7 -------
1858 - Large Date -------
1858 - Small Date -------
1859 -------
1859 - Ansell -------
1860 -------
1860 - Roman I -------
1860 - ⩝ictoria -------
1860 - DEI GRΛ -------
1860 - Large 0 -------
1860 - O/C -------
1861 -------
1861 - Roman I -------
1861 - C/Rotated C -------
1861 - T/V in Victoria -------
1861 - Repunched E & F -------
1861 - E/Rotated E -------
1861 - F/V in DEF -------
1862 - Wide date -------
1862 - Narrow date -------
1862 - Roman I -------
1862 - Wide date - F/⩝ -------
1862 - Narrow date - F/⩝ -------
1862 - R/E in BRIT -------
1862 - R/Inverted R in VICTORIA -------
1863 - With Die Number -------
1863 - With Die Number - #827 and #22 -------
1863 - With Die Number - #827 on Trun -------
1863 - Without Die Number - Arabic 1 -------
1863 - Without Die Number - Roman 1 -------
1864 - Roman I -------
1864 - Arabic 1 -------
1865 -------
1866 -------
1866 - 6/5 -------
1868 -------
1869 --$48,000----
1870 - W.W. Incuse -------
1870 - W.W. Raised -------
1871 - Shield -------
1871 - St. George - Large BP -------
1871 - St. George - Small BP -------
1871 - St. George - Small BP - Plain Edge -------
1871 - St. George - Large BP - Plain Edge -------
1872 - Shield - With Die Number -------
1872 - Shield - Without Die Number -------
1872 - St. George -------
1873 - Shield -------
1873 - St. George -------
1874 - Shield -------
1874 - St. George -------
1876 -------
1878 -------
1879 -------
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP -------
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP - 8/7 -------
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP -------
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP - 8/7 -------
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Buried -------
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete -------
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete - 8/7 -------
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP -------
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP - 8/7 -------
1884 - W.W. Buried -------
1884 - W.W. Complete -------
1885 - W.W. Buried -------
1885 - W.W. Complete -------
1887 - Small Close JEB -------
1887 - Normal JEB - Far G -------
1887 - Normal JEB - Near G -------
1887 - Small Wide (spread) JEB -------
1888 - Far G -------
1888 - Near G -------
1889 - Far G -------
1889 - Near G -------
1890 - Far G -------
1890 - Near G -------
1891 - Short Tail -------
1891 - Long Tail ----$68,500--
1892 -------
1893 -$2,530-$4,890$8,700$16,400-
1894 -------
1895 -------
1896 -------
1898 -------
1899 -------
1900 -------
1901 -------

Proof (PR): Planchets of these coins (not intended for circulation) were polished before struck (usually struck twice for higher quality). The field of Proof coins wear a cameo aspect.

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