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 --$950$2,070$3,020$3,040
1838 - Narrow Shield --$4,620$10,300$18,400$22,800
1838 - Plain Edge ------
1839 --$1,360$2,620$3,800$4,430
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↓ ------
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↑ ------
1841 --$5,800$11,000$16,200$18,800
1841 - GRΛTIΛ --$4,890$10,100$16,600$19,700
1842 --$759$759$759$843
1842 - GRΛTIΛ --$759$1,030-$1,300
1842 - Open 2 --$759$759$759$876
1843 --$759$759$759$888
1843 - 3/2 --$759$760$1,140$1,330
1843 - Roman I --$759$1,360--
1843 - Narrow Shield --$5,000$10,100$16,800$20,100
1844 - Large 44 --$759$759$759$855
1844 - Small 44 ----$759$759
1844 - 4/Inverted 4 --$815$1,630$1,870$2,240
1845 --$759$759$759$759
1845 - 4/Inverted 4 --$815$1,630$2,040$2,240
1845 - Roman I --$787$1,520-$1,370
1846 - 4/Inverted 4 --$815$1,630-$1,690
1846 --$759$759$774$902
1846 - Roman I --$759$1,360--
1847 --$759$759$759$813
1847 - Inverted 1 ------
1847 - Roman I --$760$1,570--
1848 - 1st Head --$1,090$2,440$4,890$5,100
1848 - 2nd Head --$759$759$759$759
1849 --$759$759$759$759
1849 - Roman I --$759$1,360--
1850 --$759$759$759$759
1850 - Roman I --$759$1,360--
1850 - R/E in GRATIA ------
1850 - 8/5 ------
1850 - ⩝ictoria --$1,360--$2,740
1851 --$759$759$759$759
1852 --$759$759$759$759
1852 - Roman I --$759$1,360--
1853 - W.W. Incuse --$759$759$759$807
1853 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I --$759$1,360--
1853 - W.W. Raised --$759$759$759$759
1853 - W.W. Raised - F/E in DEF --$815$1,790--
1853 - W.W. Raised - ⩝ictoria --$1,360---
1854 - W.W. Raised --$759$759$965$983
1854 - W.W. Incuse --$759$759$759$759
1854 - W.W. Incuse - C/Rotated C --$815$1,790--
1855 - W.W. Incuse --$759$759$759$759
1855 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I --$759$1,570--
1855 - W.W. Raised --$759$759$759$759
1856 --$759$759$759$759
1857 --$759$759$759$759
1857 - ⩝ictoria --$1,360---
1857 - 7/5 -----$1,090
1857 - DEI GRΛ ------
1858 - 8/7 --$815---
1858 - Large Date --$759$759$759$759
1858 - Small Date --$759$759$759$759
1859 --$759$759$759$759
1859 - Ansell --$866$2,700$5,800$6,700
1860 --$759$759$759$759
1860 - Roman I --$759$1,570--
1860 - ⩝ictoria --$1,360$2,990-$2,310
1860 - DEI GRΛ --$759$1,630--
1860 - Large 0 --$759$759$759$759
1860 - O/C --$759$759-$1,010
1861 --$759$759$759$759
1861 - Roman I --$759$815-$1,110
1861 - C/Rotated C --$815$1,790--
1861 - T/V in Victoria --$759$815--
1861 - Repunched E & F -----$912
1861 - E/Rotated E --$815$1,790--
1861 - F/V in DEF --$759$1,360--
1862 - Wide date --$759$759$759$759
1862 - Narrow date --$759$759$759$759
1862 - Roman I --$759$1,060--
1862 - Wide date - F/⩝ --$759$1,360--
1862 - Narrow date - F/⩝ --$759$1,360--
1862 - R/E in BRIT --$815$1,790--
1862 - R/Inverted R in VICTORIA --$1,090$2,720--
1863 - With Die Number --$759$759$759$759
1863 - With Die Number - #827 and #22 --$5,100$11,100$12,500$14,300
1863 - With Die Number - #827 on Trun --$6,100$11,200$14,900$17,000
1863 - Without Die Number - Arabic 1 --$759$759$759$759
1863 - Without Die Number - Roman 1 --$759$1,060-$1,180
1864 - Roman I ------
1864 - Arabic 1 --$759$759$759$759
1865 --$759$759$759$759
1866 --$759$759$759$759
1866 - 6/5 --$759$759$759$759
1868 --$759$759$759$759
1869 --$759$759$759$759
1870 - W.W. Incuse --$759$759$759$759
1870 - W.W. Raised --$759$759$759$759
1871 - Shield --$759$759$759$759
1871 - St. George - Large BP --$759$759$759$759
1871 - St. George - Small BP --$759$759$759$759
1871 - St. George - Small BP - Plain Edge ------
1871 - St. George - Large BP - Plain Edge ------
1872 - Shield - With Die Number --$759$759$759$759
1872 - Shield - Without Die Number --$759$759$759$759
1872 - St. George --$759$759$759$759
1873 - Shield --$759$759$759$759
1873 - St. George --$759$759$759$759
1874 - Shield --$1,950$4,930$7,200$9,400
1874 - St. George --$759$759$759$759
1876 --$759$759$759$759
1878 --$759$759$759$759
1879 --$759$1,500$3,310$4,220
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP --$759$759$759$759
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP - 8/7 --$759$759$759$759
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP --$759$759$759$759
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP - 8/7 --$759$759$759$759
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Buried --$759$759$759$759
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete --$759$759$759$759
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete - 8/7 --$759$759$759$759
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP --$759$759$759$759
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP - 8/7 ------
1884 - W.W. Buried --$759$759$759$759
1884 - W.W. Complete --$759$759$759$759
1885 - W.W. Buried --$759$759$759$759
1885 - W.W. Complete --$759$759$759$759
1887 - Small Close JEB --$759$759$759$759
1887 - Normal JEB - Far G --$759$759$759$759
1887 - Normal JEB - Near G ------
1887 - Small Wide (spread) JEB --$759$759$759$759
1888 - Far G --$792$792$916$972
1888 - Near G --$792$792$792$792
1889 - Far G ------
1889 - Near G --$792$792$792$792
1890 - Far G ---$792$792$792
1890 - Near G --$792$792$792$792
1891 - Short Tail --$792$1,070$1,740$1,960
1891 - Long Tail --$792$792$792$792
1892 --$792$792$792$792
1893 --$792$792$792$792
1894 --$792$792$792$792
1895 --$792$792$792$792
1896 --$792$792$792$792
1898 --$792$792$792$792
1899 --$792$792$792-
1900 --$792$792$792$792
1901 --$792$792$792$792
Variety MS-60 MS-62 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67
1838 $4,090$4,720$7,100$14,700---
1838 - Narrow Shield $27,200------
1838 - Plain Edge -------
1839 $5,100$8,200$11,300----
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↓ -------
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↑ -------
1841 $21,400$26,100$33,900$71,700$109,500--
1841 - GRΛTIΛ $22,800------
1842 $927$1,620$2,700$3,410---
1842 - GRΛTIΛ -------
1842 - Open 2 $1,000$1,560$2,120----
1843 $899$1,520$2,460$6,200---
1843 - 3/2 $1,520$2,310$3,100----
1843 - Roman I -------
1843 - Narrow Shield $23,400------
1844 - Large 44 $886$1,610$2,340$4,270$9,800--
1844 - Small 44 -$1,330$2,060----
1844 - 4/Inverted 4 $2,440------
1845 $978$1,710$2,440$4,250$11,000$17,800-
1845 - 4/Inverted 4 $2,440------
1845 - Roman I -------
1846 - 4/Inverted 4 -------
1846 $991$1,720$2,440$4,860---
1846 - Roman I -------
1847 $838$1,300$1,990$3,700$15,600--
1847 - Inverted 1 -------
1847 - Roman I -------
1848 - 1st Head $7,300------
1848 - 2nd Head $811$1,550$1,940$2,490$7,500$16,500-
1849 $964$2,330$3,950$10,200$16,900--
1849 - Roman I -------
1850 $804$1,550$2,290$3,650$6,000$8,900-
1850 - Roman I -$3,590-----
1850 - R/E in GRATIA -------
1850 - 8/5 -------
1850 - ⩝ictoria -------
1851 $759$1,130$1,940$2,580$5,500$7,600-
1852 $759$1,220$1,720$1,800$10,600$11,200-
1852 - Roman I -------
1853 - W.W. Incuse $811$1,490$2,170----
1853 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I -------
1853 - W.W. Raised $759$1,090$2,230$5,100$5,100$5,200$15,700
1853 - W.W. Raised - F/E in DEF -------
1853 - W.W. Raised - ⩝ictoria -------
1854 - W.W. Raised $1,000$1,720$2,430----
1854 - W.W. Incuse $759$1,110$1,780$6,100$11,600--
1854 - W.W. Incuse - C/Rotated C -------
1855 - W.W. Incuse $759$1,270$1,730$2,770---
1855 - W.W. Incuse - Roman I -------
1855 - W.W. Raised $811$1,150$1,490----
1856 $759$1,070$1,840$2,180---
1857 $759$972$2,470----
1857 - ⩝ictoria -------
1857 - 7/5 -------
1857 - DEI GRΛ -------
1858 - 8/7 -------
1858 - Large Date $759$1,150$3,430----
1858 - Small Date $759$1,140$1,620----
1859 $1,050$1,180$1,560----
1859 - Ansell $8,900$11,700$14,700----
1860 $759$1,370$1,880$5,100$7,200--
1860 - Roman I -------
1860 - ⩝ictoria -------
1860 - DEI GRΛ -------
1860 - Large 0 $759$1,050$1,410----
1860 - O/C -------
1861 $759$863$1,190$4,300---
1861 - Roman I -------
1861 - C/Rotated C -------
1861 - T/V in Victoria ----$7,500--
1861 - Repunched E & F -------
1861 - E/Rotated E -------
1861 - F/V in DEF -------
1862 - Wide date $759$904$1,700----
1862 - Narrow date $759$941$1,370$1,970---
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 $759$824$940----
1863 - With Die Number - #827 and #22 $16,100------
1863 - With Die Number - #827 on Trun $19,000------
1863 - Without Die Number - Arabic 1 $759$911$1,360$12,300$23,300--
1863 - Without Die Number - Roman 1 --$2,750----
1864 - Roman I -------
1864 - Arabic 1 $759$856$1,150$1,770$7,600--
1865 $759$1,010$1,880$4,140$6,600--
1866 $759$889$1,350$4,720---
1866 - 6/5 $815$1,220$1,630----
1868 $759$1,010$1,200----
1869 $759$819$1,320$1,890$3,320--
1870 - W.W. Incuse $759$944$1,330----
1870 - W.W. Raised $759$1,000$1,160----
1871 - Shield $759$836$914$1,380$3,820--
1871 - St. George - Large BP $759$931$1,100$2,500---
1871 - St. George - Small BP $759$803$847$1,300$3,450--
1871 - St. George - Small BP - Plain Edge -------
1871 - St. George - Large BP - Plain Edge -------
1872 - Shield - With Die Number $759$818$877$1,110$2,750--
1872 - Shield - Without Die Number $759$790$821$1,670---
1872 - St. George $759$829$900$1,130$4,120$5,700-
1873 - Shield $759$1,090$1,420----
1873 - St. George $759$854$950----
1874 - Shield $10,700$19,400-----
1874 - St. George $759$832$906----
1876 $759$809$859$2,330$2,380--
1878 $759$832$906----
1879 $5,100$22,700$40,300----
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP $759$824$915----
1880 - Short Tail - Small BP - 8/7 $759$1,150$1,190----
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP $759$775$791----
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Buried - No BP - 8/7 $759$895$1,030----
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Buried $759$802$845----
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete $759$775$791$5,700---
1880 - Long Tail - W.W. Complete - 8/7 $759$895$1,030----
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP $759$774$791----
1880 - Short Tail - W.W. Complete - No BP - 8/7 -------
1884 - W.W. Buried $759$850$867$883---
1884 - W.W. Complete $759$759$759$1,770---
1885 - W.W. Buried $759$815$872----
1885 - W.W. Complete $759$825$862----
1887 - Small Close JEB $859$1,080$1,310$3,420---
1887 - Normal JEB - Far G $759$759$759$904$1,820--
1887 - Normal JEB - Near G -$667-$855$16,700$32,500-
1887 - Small Wide (spread) JEB $859$978$1,020$1,290$1,660--
1888 - Far G $991$1,080$1,310----
1888 - Near G $792$792$792$2,170---
1889 - Far G --$931----
1889 - Near G $792$792$792----
1890 - Far G $792$869$1,090----
1890 - Near G $792$792$792$1,450---
1891 - Short Tail $2,120$2,240-----
1891 - Long Tail $792$792$792$2,170---
1892 $792$792$792$2,020---
1893 $792$792$792$2,370$2,960$3,540-
1894 $792$792$792----
1895 $792$792$792----
1896 $792$792$792$3,130---
1898 $792$792$792$1,820$3,100--
1899 $792$792$792$3,000---
1900 $792$792$792$1,430---
1901 $792$930$1,070----
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 - ↑↓ ---$33,900---
1839 - Plain Edge - ↑↑ ---$38,200$54,700--
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 ----$55,000--
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 --$51,300----
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 ---$30,900$31,900--
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 -$3,750$6,000$8,700$8,800--
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 ----$73,300--
1892 -------
1893 -$2,710-$6,400$9,300$17,500-
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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