Half sovereigns: fine gold content, mounts and loose coins

What a half sovereign is

A half sovereign is exactly what the name suggests: half the gold of a full sovereign. It is struck in 22 carat gold, weighs 3.99 grams in total and contains 3.66 grams of fine gold, which is roughly 0.1177 troy ounce. Both faces carry the same designs as the full sovereign, a monarch portrait on the obverse and most commonly St George and the dragon on the reverse, but the coin is small, easy to misplace and easy to over-value if it once carried sentimental jewellery use. If you already know what you hold, the service page to sell half sovereign coins covers the label, the cover level and the paperwork.

Half sovereigns were minted from 1817 onwards in step with full sovereigns. Modern half sovereigns appear under Elizabeth II from 1980 and now under Charles III. Victoria, Edward VII and George V half sovereigns are dated here from the portrait and the reverse design. Where a coin has been mounted as a pendant or set into a ring, the mount is weighed and assessed apart from the coin. Loose coins follow the usual route for gold coins sold by post.

Loose coins versus mounted coins

A loose, unmounted half sovereign is straightforward. The XRF reading confirms the gold content and the scale confirms the weight. Mounted half sovereigns are different. A coin set into a pendant frame or a ring shank has been altered. The mount itself is usually 9 carat gold rather than 22 carat, and any solder joining the coin to the mount changes the metal mix at that point.

We still buy mounted half sovereigns, and we will tell you whether removing the mount is worth doing before sale. Sometimes the mount has its own scrap value. Sometimes the jewellery piece as a whole is worth more than the coin alone because someone wants to wear it.

How the written valuation is built

Every parcel is signed for on arrival and opened at our Bristol office, where each coin is weighed individually and XRF-tested. The reading confirms the alloy is consistent with a genuine 22 carat half sovereign.

Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. The written valuation that lands on your WhatsApp is itemised, with a line per coin.

Posting a small parcel without losing coins

1. Photograph each coin on a plain background and send to 07944 014111.
2. Wait for our reply and the prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
3. Drop each coin into its own coin flip, small zip bag or square of tissue.
4. Place inside a padded jiffy bag and slide that into a rigid outer envelope.
5. Hand it in at a Post Office counter and ask for the tracked receipt.
6. Send the tracking number across on WhatsApp.

Rarity windows worth flagging

If you do not collect coins, these are the ones worth a second look. Victoria young-head shield-back half sovereigns from the 1840s and 1850s have collector interest. Branch-mint half sovereigns marked with an S, M or P (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth) are scarcer than London-struck coins. Edward VII and George V half sovereigns are usually bullion-led but condition grade matters. Half sovereigns in original Royal Mint cases with certificates from the 1980s and later usually carry a small numismatic premium over melt.

If your coin sits in any of those windows, send a photo on WhatsApp first and we will tell you how we would value it before you post anything.

Decline and return

If the written valuation is not what you hoped for, decline in writing on WhatsApp. The coins come back to you by Royal Mail Special Delivery and we pay the return postage. There is no admin fee, no restocking charge and no obligation. The valuation is yours to keep and use as a second opinion elsewhere.