Published 2 June 2026
What a full gold sovereign actually is
A full British gold sovereign is a 22 carat coin containing 7.32 grams of total weight and 7.3224 grams of fine gold, close enough to a quarter of a troy ounce that most dealers quote sovereigns at 0.2354 troy ounce of fine gold. The remaining mass is copper alloy, which is why sovereigns wear well in circulation and ring brighter than a soft 24 carat coin when tapped.
Modern sovereigns have been struck on and off since 1817. The portrait on the obverse tells you which monarch reigned when the coin was made: George III, George IV, William IV, Victoria (young head, jubilee head and old head), Edward VII, George V, George VI, Elizabeth II and now Charles III. The reverse usually shows St George slaying the dragon, designed originally by Benedetto Pistrucci.
Bullion value versus numismatic premium
Every sovereign carries a base value tied to the live precious-metal market for its gold content. On top of that, certain dates and mint marks attract a numismatic premium because collectors compete for them. A common late-Elizabeth II sovereign trades close to bullion. A scarcer Victoria young-head shield-back, a low-mintage Sydney or Melbourne mint mark, or a proof-condition Edward VII can carry a premium that materially changes the offer.
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. For sovereigns that means weight, purity, mint year, mint mark, condition grade and whether the coin sits in its original presentation case.
How to post sovereigns safely
Sovereigns are small, dense and sit happily in a padded jiffy bag inside a rigid outer envelope. They do not need fancy packaging, but they do need to stop moving. A coin loose in a box rattles, and a rattling parcel attracts attention.
- WhatsApp clear photos to 07763 741067, both sides of each coin and any presentation cases.
- Receive your shape-of-offer reply and a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label by email.
- Wrap each sovereign in a coin flip or a small zip bag so the surfaces never touch each other.
- Pad the package so nothing slides around when you shake it.
- Take the parcel to your local Post Office counter and ask for the tracking receipt.
- Forward the tracking number on WhatsApp so we both watch the same parcel.
What XRF testing can and cannot tell us
On arrival every sovereign is tested with a handheld XRF analyser. The reading confirms the alloy composition and rules out clever fakes that look right on a kitchen scale. XRF tells us with confidence that the metal is 22 carat gold of the expected mass and that the copper alloy ratio sits where a genuine sovereign should sit.
What XRF cannot tell us is rarity. The analyser does not know whether a coin is a low-mintage Sydney 1881 or a common 1980 proof. That is why the valuation step is a human review as well as a machine test. We grade the surface, check the rim, look at the date and mint mark and weigh the numismatic premium against the bullion price.
When to send to a postal buyer and when to use auction
For ordinary modern sovereigns in circulated condition, a postal bullion-led buyer is usually faster and cheaper than auction once you account for commission, listing fees and the wait for a sale day. You get a written valuation in a working day and money in your account the day you accept.
For exceptional pieces, proof sovereigns with their original Royal Mint case and certificate, scarce Victoria branch-mint sovereigns or a long pre-1900 set in matching grade, a specialist numismatic auction can sometimes raise more, because collectors bid each other up. If you are unsure where your coins sit, send photos first. We will tell you honestly when we think auction is the better route.
Insurance, decline and payment
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. If you are posting a collection worth more than that figure, message us before you ship. We will split the parcel across two labels so every coin travels under cover.
Once you accept a written valuation, payment is sent the same working day by Faster Payments bank transfer. If you decline, we return the parcel by tracked post within one working day and pay the return postage ourselves. There is no quibble, no restocking fee and no obligation.
Common questions
Do you need the original Royal Mint presentation case?
No, but please send it if you have it. Original cases, certificates and outer sleeves can lift the offer on proof sovereigns and sometimes on ordinary uncirculated coins as well.
Do you buy single sovereigns?
Yes. A single sovereign or a full collection are both welcome. The minimum is one coin.
Are my sovereigns insured in the post?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. We can issue more than one label if your parcel exceeds that figure.
Can I get a quote before I post?
Yes. Send photos and weights on WhatsApp first. You receive a shape-of-offer reply, normally the same day, so you know roughly where you stand before committing.
What if my sovereign is dated 1989?
The 1989 sovereign is the 500th anniversary design with the Tudor double rose. It usually carries a numismatic premium. Mention the year on WhatsApp so we look at it in that light.
Do I have to visit a shop?
No. The whole process is by post. There is no walk-in counter.
When do I get paid?
On the working day you accept the written valuation, by bank transfer.
What if I change my mind after posting?
You decline the offer in writing on WhatsApp and we send the coins back by tracked post at our cost.