Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v67 27th November 2023
History of the Sovereign and Guinea
Pictures of the Sovereign and Guinea
One Guinea
Charles II, James II,
William & Mary, William III, Anne,
George I, George II, George III
Sovereign
George III, George IV,
William IV, Victoria, Edward VII,
George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
It is stressed that the following prices are a guide only, and in UK pounds. They represent what you might have to pay a dealer, rather than what you might be able to sell them for. I can take no personal responsibility for their accuracy, although every effort has been made to ensure that they have been copied correctly. In addition it should be noted that the price of gold coins is very dependent on the bullion value of gold, which in 2023 is significantly higher than when some of the following prices were published.
As indicated in the note below, despite lower quotes in these dated prices the bullion value of a sovereign is about £170. Current bullion values may be available on my Bullion Value page
The information has generally been taken from the UK monthly magazine
Coin News,
and is reproduced by the kind permission of
Token Publishing Ltd, 40 Southernhay East, Exeter, EX1 1PE
The headings F, VF, EF and Unc refer to the condition grades of the coins. A guide to
evaluating grades is found on my UK Coin Values Index page.
Proof coins relatively often found are listed, but the absence of a mention does not mean that
a proof of that year does not exist.
No values are available for these early hammered coins.
For Post-1817 sovereigns see below.
No values of these coins are available, although a Broad in EF was recently offered for £7,250.
Year F VF EF 1663 5000 15000 60000 1663el 4000 12000 1663b2 3500 11000 45000 1664b2 3500 11000 1664el2 4000 12000 47000 1664b3 1400 4000 16000 1664el3 2000 5000 20000 1665 1400 4000 15000 1665el 2000 6000 22000 1666 1200 3500 15000 1667 1200 3500 15000 1668 1300 4000 15000 1668el ex rare 1669 1500 3500 15000 1670 1500 3500 14500 1671 1500 3500 14500 1672b3 1500 4000 17000 1672b4 1100 3000 11000 1673b3 1200 3200 16000 1673b4 1000 3000 13000 1674 1000 3000 13000 1674ec ex rare 1675 1100 3000 13000 1675ec 1400 4000 15000 1676 900 2750 12000 1676/4 900 2750 12000 1676ec 900 4500 20000 1677 900 3000 12000 1677el ex rare 1677ec 1300 3500 15000 1678 1000 2500 13000 1678el ex rare 1678ec 1300 3500 15000 1679 1200 2750 12000 1679ec 1250 3500 15000 1680 1000 2500 11000 1680ec 1300 4000 15000 1681 1100 3250 13000 1681ec 1300 4000 16500 1682 1000 3200 12000 1682ec 1400 4500 18000 1683 1000 2500 12000 1683ec 1200 4500 16000 1684 1000 3000 13000 1684ec 1500 4500 19000 b2: bust two b3: bust three b4: bust four el: elephant below bust el2: elephant below bust 2 el3: elephant below bust 3 ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1685 1500 3500 13000 1685ec 1600 4000 15000 1686b1 1300 3000 14000 1686ec1 ex rare 1686b2 1400 3500 12000 1686ec2 1600 4000 16000 1687 1700 5000 14500 1687ec 1500 4000 17500 1688 1400 3000 13000 1688ec 1400 4500 15000 b1: bust one b2: bust two ec: elephant and castle below bust ec1: elephant and castle below bust 1 ec2: elephant and castle below bust 2
Year F VF EF 1689 1100 3600 12000 1689ec 1200 3500 13000 1690 1100 3600 13000 1690ec 1200 3000 16000 1691 1100 3650 13000 1691ec 1100 3400 13000 1692 1100 3400 13020 1692el 1250 3400 13000 1692ec 1200 4250 13000 1693 1200 3250 13000 1693el 1400 4750 19000 1693ec 1450 4750 18000 1694 1200 3400 13000 1694/3 1200 3400 13000 1694ec 1300 3400 13000 1694/3ec1300 3400 14000 ec: elephant and castle below bust el: elephant below bust
Year F VF EF 1695 1000 3000 11000 1695ec 1500 6000 16500 1696 1000 3000 11000 1696ec extremely rare 1697b1 1000 4000 12000 1697b2 1000 3500 12000 1697ec2 2000 7000 20000 1698 1000 3000 11000 1698ec 1800 5500 13500 1699 1100 3500 12000 1699ec extremely rare 1700 1000 2750 10000 1700ec 1600 6000 1701b2 950 2750 9500 1701ec extremely rare 1701b3 2000 6750 20000 b1: bust one b2: bust two b3: bust three ec: elephant and castle below bust ec2: elephant and castle below bust 2
Year F VF EF 1702 1500 5000 18000 1703V 25000 65000 150000 1705 1500 5000 16000 1706 1500 5000 17000 1707bu 1500 5000 17000 1707au 1000 3000 14000 1707ec 1500 6000 17000 1707b2 900 3000 12000 1708b1 950 3250 13000 1708b2 900 3000 9000 1708ec 1500 6000 18000 1709 900 2200 10000 1709ec 950 4000 15000 1710 850 1800 7000 1711 850 1800 7000 1712 850 2200 8000 1713 800 2000 6500 1714 800 2000 6500 1714A 1000 2200 12000 V: VIGO below bust b1: bust one b2: bust two bu: before union au: after union ec: elephant and castle below bust A: No bar in last A in GRATIA
Year F VF EF 1714 2200 6000 20000 1715b2 900 2000 6500 1715b3 700 2000 6000 1716b3 850 2100 7000 1716b4 750 2000 6500 1716h ex rare 1717 750 2000 6500 1718 ex rare 1719 800 2000 7000 1720 800 2000 6000 1721 850 2200 6500 1721ec ex rare 1722 900 2000 7000 1722ec ex rare 1723b4 900 2000 7000 1723b5 900 2000 7000 1724 900 2200 7000 1725 900 2200 7000 1726 850 2200 7000 1726ec 2500 8000 25000 1727 900 2500 8000 b2: bust two b3: bust three b4: bust four b5: bust five ec: elephant and castle below bust h: bust four, Hanoverian shield at date.
Year F VF EF 1727ls 1600 5000 17000 1727ss 1600 5000 17000 1728 1650 5500 16000 1729E 1800 4250 17500 1729 proof ex rare 1730 900 2000 8000 1731 800 2250 9000 1731E 1600 5000 16500 1732 800 2500 9000 1732E 1500 4000 15000 1732ll 700 2000 8000 1732Ell 1650 5000 18000 1733 700 1700 6500 1734 700 1700 6500 1735 700 1700 6500 1736 700 1800 6500 1737 700 1800 6500 1738 750 1900 7000 1739 900 2000 9000 1739E 1500 5000 17000 1740 800 1800 9500 1741/39 1000 3000 11000 1743 1000 3000 12000 1745 700 1800 7000 1745L 2500 7000 30000 1746 800 2000 7500 1747 650 1500 5000 1748 650 1500 6000 1749 700 1600 6000 1750 650 1450 5000 1751 600 1400 5000 1752 600 1400 5000 1753 600 1400 5000 1755 600 1500 4500 1756 600 1500 4500 1758 600 1500 4500 1759 600 1500 4500 1760 600 1500 4500 ls: large shield ss: small shield ll: large lettering Ell: EIC below bust, large lettering E: EIC below bust L: LIMA below bust
Year F VF EF 1761 2200 6000 15000
1763 1600 4500 12000 1764 1400 4500 13000 1764ns 2200 5000 13000
1765 500 900 2200 1766 500 900 2200 1767 550 1000 2750 1768 500 900 2250 1769 500 900 2250 1770 1500 3250 8000 1771 500 700 1800 1772 500 700 1800 1773 500 700 1950
1774 450 700 1500 1775 475 700 1500 1776 450 700 1700 1777 450 700 1700 1778 850 1400 4000 1779 500 725 1350 1781 450 675 1450 1782 450 675 1450 1783 400 625 1450 1784 400 625 1350 1785 450 700 1450 1786 500 750 1500
1787 400 575 1150 1788 400 575 1150 1789 400 575 1200 1790 425 650 1350 1791 400 600 1200 1792 400 600 1200 1793 400 650 1250 1794 400 650 1200 1795 400 650 1200 1796 400 650 1200 1797 400 700 1300 1798 400 675 1300 1799 500 825 2000
1813 1400 2600 7000 ns: no stop above headExtracted from Coin News, December 2023
Year F VF EF Unc 1817 550 900 2000 4500 1818 700 1200 5000 8500 1819 exceedingly rare 1820 550 850 1800 4000
A good VF specimen of the exceedingly rare 1819 sovereign recently sold at Sothebys for £55,000.
Year F VF EF Unc 1821 500 750 1800 1821 proof 11000 1822 450 750 2000 3400 1823 1000 2750 8000 1824 500 900 2250 4000 1825t1 700 2000 6000 9000
1825t2 425 700 1750 2600 1826 425 700 1500 2600 1826 proof 9000 1827 475 750 1750 3500 1828 6000 15000 30000 1829 475 800 2500 4000 1830 475 800 2500 4000
Year F VF EF Unc 1831 600 1000 3250 5000 1831 proof 18000 1832 500 900 2500 4000 1833 500 900 2500 4000 1835 500 900 2500 4000 1836 500 900 2000 4000 1837 525 950 2000 4500
Note that changes in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign varies.
Year F VF EF Unc 1838 800 1500 4000 8000 1839 1100 2750 4000 9500 1839 proof 25000 1841 5000 9500 22000 1842 350 400 1000 2000 1843 350 400 1000 2000 1843ns 5000 10000 I843 750 1500 1844 350 400 1000 1800 1845 350 400 1000 1800 1846 350 400 1000 1800 1847 350 420 1000 1900 1848 350 420 1000 1900 1849 350 420 1000 1700 1850 350 420 1000 1700 1851 350 420 750 1700 1852 350 420 850 1700 1853 350 420 750 1750 1853 proof 22000 1854 350 420 750 1750 1854lb 350 420 750 2000 1855 350 420 750 1750 1856 350 420 750 1750 1857 350 420 750 1750 1858 350 420 750 1750 1859 350 420 750 1750 1859A 750 1800 9000 1860 350 400 650 1250 1861 350 400 600 1250 1862 350 400 650 1250 1863nd 350 400 600 1250 1863dn 350 400 600 1100 1864 350 400 600 1100 1865 350 400 650 1100 1866 350 400 600 1100 1868 350 400 550 1100 1869 350 400 550 1100 1870 350 400 550 1100 1871s 350 400 550 1100 1872snd 350 400 500 1000 1872sdn 350 400 500 1000 1873s 350 400 600 1000 1874s 2000 4000 12000 Melbourne Mint 1872sM 350 400 500 1250 1873sM extremely rare 1874sM 350 400 400 1250 1879sM extremely rare 1880sM 700 1650 3000 6000 1881sM 350 400 450 1600 1882sM 350 400 450 1150 1883sM 350 400 600 3200 1884sM 350 400 450 1000 1885sM 350 400 450 1000 1886sM 1800 4000 6500 8250 1887sM 600 1350 3500 5000 Sydney Mint 1871sS 350 400 450 1300 1872sS 350 400 450 1600 1873sS 350 400 450 1300 1875sS 350 400 450 1300 1877sS 350 400 450 1300 1878sS 350 400 450 1400 1879sS 350 400 450 1300 1880sS 350 400 450 1500 1881sS 350 400 450 1500 1882sS 350 400 450 1300 1883sS 350 400 450 1100 1884sS 350 400 450 1100 1885sS 350 400 450 1100 1886sS 350 400 450 1100 1887sS 350 400 450 1600 s: shield reverse dn: die number nd: no die number lb: larger bust A: Ansell type ns: narrow shield M: Melbourne S:Sydney
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1871g 325 330 350 550 1872g 325 330 350 550 1873g 325 330 350 550 1874g 325 330 350 550 1876g 325 330 350 550 1878g 325 330 350 550 1879g 600 1500 13000 1880g 325 330 350 550 1884g 325 330 350 550 1885g 325 330 350 550 Melbourne Mint 1872gM 325 500 1150 4200 1873gM 325 400 450 550 1874gM 325 400 450 550 1875gM 325 400 450 550 1876gM 325 400 450 550 1877gM 325 400 450 550 1878gM 325 400 450 550 1879gM 325 400 450 550 1880gM 325 400 450 550 1881sM 325 400 450 550 1881gM 325 400 450 550 1882gM 325 400 450 550 1883gM 325 400 450 550 1884gM 325 400 450 550 1885gM 325 400 450 550 1886gM 325 400 450 550 1887gM 325 400 450 550 Sydney Mint 1871gS 325 400 450 525 1872gS 325 400 450 700 1873gS 325 400 450 550 1874gS 325 400 450 550 1875gS 325 400 450 550 1876gS 325 400 450 550 1877gS extremely rare 1879gS 325 400 450 550 1880gS 325 400 450 550 1881gS 325 400 450 550 1882gS 325 400 450 550 1883gS 325 400 450 550 1884gS 325 400 450 550 1885gS 325 400 450 550 1886gS 325 400 450 550 1887gS 325 400 450 550 g: George & Dragon reverse M: Melbourne S:Sydney
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1887 325 400 450 550 1887 proof 3000 1888 325 400 450 550 1889 325 400 450 550 1890 325 400 450 550 1891 325 400 450 550 1892 325 400 450 550 Melbourne Mint 1887M 325 400 450 550 1888M 325 400 450 550 1889M 325 400 450 550 1890M 325 400 450 550 1891M 325 400 450 550 1892M 325 400 450 550 1893Mj 325 400 450 550 Sydney Mint 1887S 325 400 1600 2750 1888S 325 400 450 550 1889S 325 400 450 550 1890S 325 400 450 550 1891S 325 400 450 550 1892S 325 400 450 550 1893Sj 325 400 450 550 M: Melbourne S:Sydney
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1893 325 400 450 550 1893 proof 3250 1894 325 400 450 550 1895 325 400 450 550 1896 325 400 450 550 1898 325 400 450 550 1899 325 400 450 550 1900 325 400 450 550 1901 325 400 450 550 Melbourne Mint 1893Mo 325 400 450 550 1894M 325 400 450 550 1895M 325 400 450 550 1896M 325 400 450 550 1897M 325 400 450 550 1898M 325 400 450 550 1899M 325 400 450 550 1900M 325 400 450 550 1901M 325 400 450 550 Perth Mint 1899P 325 400 500 2500 1900P 325 400 450 550 1901P 325 400 450 550 Sydney Mint 1893So 325 400 450 550 1894S 325 400 450 550 1895S 325 400 450 550 1896S 325 400 450 550 1897S 325 400 450 550 1898S 325 400 450 550 1899S 325 400 450 550 1900S 325 400 450 550 1901S 325 400 450 550 M: Melbourne P: Perth S:Sydney
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1902 325 400 450 550 1902 proof 700 1903 325 400 450 550 1904 325 400 450 550 1905 325 400 450 550 1906 325 400 450 550 1907 325 400 450 550 1908 325 400 450 550 1909 325 400 450 550 1910 325 400 450 550 Ottawa Mint 1908C proof extremely rare 1909C 325 400 500 800 1910C 325 400 500 700 Melbourne Mint 1902M 325 400 450 550 1903M 325 400 450 550 1904M 325 400 450 550 1905M 325 400 450 550 1906M 325 400 450 550 1907M 325 400 450 550 1908M 325 400 450 550 1909M 325 400 450 550 1910M 325 400 450 550 Perth Mint 1902P 325 400 450 550 1903P 325 400 450 550 1904P 325 400 450 550 1905P 325 400 450 550 1906P 325 400 450 550 1907P 325 400 450 550 1908P 325 400 450 550 1909P 325 400 450 550 1910P 325 400 450 550 Sydney Mint 1902S 325 400 450 550 1902S proof ex rare 1903S 325 400 450 550 1904S 325 400 450 550 1905S 325 400 450 550 1906S 325 400 450 550 1907S 325 400 450 550 1908S 325 400 450 550 1909S 325 400 450 550 1910S 325 400 450 550
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1911 325 400 450 550 1911 proof 1600 1912 325 400 450 550 1913 325 400 450 550 1914 325 400 450 550 1915 325 400 450 550 1916 325 400 500 750 1917 1500 5500 20000 1925 325 400 450 550 Ottawa Mint 1911C 325 400 500 750 1913C 325 500 1750 1914C 325 400 1500 1916C Ex Rare 1917C 325 400 600 850 1918C 325 400 500 650 1919C 325 400 500 650 Bombay Mint 1918I 325 400 450 Melbourne Mint 1911M 325 400 450 550 1912M 325 400 450 550 1913M 325 400 450 550 1914M 325 400 450 550 1915M 325 400 450 550 1916M 325 400 450 550 1917M 325 400 500 750 1918M 325 400 450 550 1919M 325 400 450 550 1920M 1350 2500 4000 6500 1921M 4000 7000 8000 24000 1922M 4000 7000 7000 25000 1923M 325 400 500 750 1924M 325 400 500 750 1925M 325 400 450 550 1926M 325 400 450 550 1928M 500 900 1700 4000 1929M 900 1000 1700 5000 1930M 325 400 500 800 1931M 325 400 750 1000 Perth Mint 1911P 325 400 450 550 1912P 325 400 450 550 1913P 325 400 450 550 1914P 325 400 450 550 1915P 325 400 450 550 1916P 325 400 450 550 1917P 325 400 450 550 1918P 325 400 450 550 1919P 325 400 450 550 1920P 325 400 450 550 1921P 325 400 450 550 1922P 325 400 450 550 1923P 325 400 450 550 1924P 325 400 450 550 1925P 325 400 500 650 1926P 500 900 1500 4200 1927P 325 400 500 750 1928P 325 400 450 600 1929P 325 400 450 550 1930P 325 400 500 675 1931P 325 400 450 550 Sydney Mint 1911S 325 400 450 550 1912S 325 400 450 550 1913S 325 400 450 550 1914S 325 400 450 550 1915S 325 400 450 550 1916S 325 400 450 550 1917S 325 400 450 550 1918S 325 400 450 550 1919S 325 400 450 550 1920S ex rare 1921S 600 900 1750 2750 1922S ex rare 1923S ex rare 1924S 600 1100 1500 2750 1925S 325 400 450 550 1926S ex rare Pretoria Mint 1923SA 800 1850 3500 7500 1923SA proof ex rare 1924SA 3000 5000 1925SA 325 400 450 550 1926SA 325 400 450 550 1927SA 325 400 450 550 1928SA 325 400 450 550 1929SA 325 400 450 550 1930SA 325 400 450 550 1931SA 325 400 450 550 1932SA 325 400 450 550 C: Ottawa, Canada I: India M: Melbourne P: Perth S: Sydney SA: Pretoria, South Africa
Year F VF EF Unc 1937 proof only 3750 5500
Year F VF EF Unc 1953 ex rare 1957 325 400 450 550 1958 325 400 450 550 1959 325 400 450 550 1962 325 400 450 550 1963 325 400 450 550 1964 325 400 450 550 1965 325 400 450 550 1966 325 400 450 550 1967 325 400 450 550 1968 325 400 450 550
For the following sovereigns information is over 14 years old. As a rough guide add 200 GB pounds to each of the following values.
1974 125 150 1976 125 150 1978 125 150 1979 125 150 1979 proof 150 1980 150 1980 proof 150 1981 150 1981 proof 150 1982 150 1982 proof 150 1983 proof 150 1984 proof 150 1985 proof 150 1986 proof 150 1987 proof 150 1988 proof 150 1989 proof 350 1990 proof 150 1991 proof 150 1992 proof 165 1993 proof 165 1994 proof 165 1995 proof 165 1996 proof 165 1997 proof 175 1998 proof 175 1999 proof 200 2000 125 2000 proof 140 2001 125 2001 proof 140 2002 125 2002 proof 140 2003 125 2003 proof 140 2004 125 2004 proof 140 2005 125 2005 proof 140 2006 125 2006 proof 140 2007 125 2007 proof 140 2008 125 2008 proof 140 2009 125 2009 proof 140 2010 125 2010 proof 140 2011 125 2011 proof 140 2012 125 2012 proof 140 2013 125 2013 proof 140 2014 125 2014 proof 140 2015 125 2015 proof 140 2016 125 2016 proof 140 2017 125 2017 proof 140
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be about 320 pounds.
1817-1968: extracted from Coin News October 2021; 1970-date: Coin Yearbook 2007.
For Decimal One Pound coins issued from 1983 onwards, see The Decimal One Pound page
The lack of a value for a grade means either that the coin is rarely found in that grade or that it has bullion value only.
One Guinea
Charles II, James II,
William & Mary, William III, Anne,
George I, George II, George III
Sovereign
George III, George IV,
William IV, Victoria, Edward VII,
George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
On 27th November 2023 gold bullion was about $2014 per Troy oz. The sovereign contains 0.2354 oz of gold, and this gives a bullion value of 0.2354 × 2014 = about $473 or £375.
Please note that prices for sovereigns after 1978 given above were valid in 2007 when gold prices were much lower. Current bullion values may be available on my Bullion Value page
15s << :
>> 30s
Decimal One Pound
Post-1971 Gold
Values Index
History of the One Pound coin (Sovereign & Guinea)
History of the Decimal One Pound coin
Main History Index
Pictures of Sovereigns and Guineas
Pictures Index
Values of Coins of UK - One Pound
Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v67 27th November 2023