Short answer
GoldPaid buys gold sovereign coins by post: full sovereigns (7.98g, 22ct, 0.2354 oz fine gold), half sovereigns, quarter sovereigns and double sovereigns, every UK monarch from George III to Charles III. Each coin is assessed by date, mint mark and condition; rare dates and proof issues are paid at numismatic value above bullion. Free prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label, bank transfer on acceptance, free return if declined.
What a sovereign actually is, weight and purity
The British gold sovereign has been struck since 1817 to a single technical specification that has barely changed in two centuries: 7.98805 grams gross weight, 22ct gold (916 fineness), giving 7.32238 grams of pure gold per coin, or 0.2354 of a troy ounce. Every full sovereign you can post us, whether minted in 1817 or 2024, contains essentially the same amount of fine gold within tolerance.
The half sovereign is half a full sovereign in every dimension: 3.99 grams gross, 0.1177 troy ounces fine gold. Quarter and double sovereigns also exist but in far smaller numbers, mostly as modern Royal Mint issues for collectors. The XRF reading on arrival confirms each coin's 22ct purity directly; pre-1934 sovereigns are very occasionally slightly under-weight from circulation wear, which the calibrated scale picks up.
Date, mint mark, and the numismatic premium
A small but significant share of UK sovereigns are worth more than their gold content. The reasons split into three categories: rare date, rare mint, and proof quality.
Rare dates: certain years of the Victorian, Edward VII, George V and the brief Edward VIII sovereign issues are scarce enough to attract collector premiums above scrap. Edward VIII pattern sovereigns (struck but never officially issued in 1937) are the headline example, valued at hundreds of times bullion. More common rare dates like Victorian "shield-back" sovereigns from certain branch mints can run 5-30% above bullion depending on condition.
Rare mints: sovereigns were struck at London, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Bombay, Pretoria and Ottawa. The mint mark (a small letter or symbol on the reverse) identifies the branch mint and some branch combinations are scarce.
Proof quality: modern Royal Mint proof sovereigns sold in their original presentation cases carry premiums of 10-30% above bullion when sold complete with the certificate of authenticity.
Common dates and the bullion-value floor
The vast majority of full sovereigns in UK private hands are common-date Edward VII, George V or modern Elizabeth II issues. None of those carry numismatic premium; they sit at the bullion value, which is simply 7.32 grams of fine gold at the current per-gram rate.
The bullion-value floor matters: even the most common date sovereign in worn condition is worth its measured fine-gold weight, which at recent rates means each full sovereign is worth several hundred pounds. The XRF reading and the scale on arrival give the bullion figure to the penny; the date check determines whether the premium applies on top.
Posted sovereigns, packaging and Royal Mail cover
Sovereigns are small (22mm diameter, 1.5mm thick) and need wrapping individually in tissue or a small coin envelope so they do not rub against each other in transit. A parcel of ten full sovereigns weighs roughly 80 grams; the cover value (10 x bullion figure) sits comfortably within the standard £2,500 Special Delivery cover.
If you have more than about 12 full sovereigns or more than 4 double sovereigns in a single parcel, the total value may exceed £2,500. Message us first and we will arrange the appropriate higher cover before any label is sent.
What happens, from first message to payment
- A photo and a question. Send photos of your sovereign coins on WhatsApp. We reply with a quick indicative figure and answer whatever you want to know.
- A prepaid label, on request. Ask for the label when you are ready and we send a free, tracked, signed-for Royal Mail Special Delivery one, or a QR code for the counter.
- You post it. Any padded envelope is fine, posted whenever you choose.
- We assess and write it up. Calibrated weighing plus an XRF assay produce a written, itemised offer for you to read at home.
- Your decision. Accept for payment by Faster Payments, or decline for a free, tracked, insured return.
Cover in transit
Royal Mail Special Delivery cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. The prepaid label is Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed: full tracking, a signature on delivery, arranged with that cover per parcel. Higher-value items are no problem, but please message us first so the cover and the packing approach match the value. Postage and insurance explains it fully.
If you decide not to sell
There is never any obligation to accept. If the offer is not for you, simply decline, and we return everything free of charge by tracked, insured post, with no fee and no follow-up pressure. The full return process is on what happens if I decline the offer.
Payment, once you accept
When you say yes to the written offer, GoldPaid pays by Faster Payments bank transfer to your nominated account. You give those details only at the point you accept, never as a condition of getting an offer.
Why this is a calmer way to sell
Three things make GoldPaid a steadier route than a counter sale. You see a measured valuation in writing, not a verbal estimate. You decide at home, with nobody waiting. And if you decline, the return is free, tracked and insured, so obtaining the valuation costs you nothing.
Common questions
How do I tell if my sovereign is a rare date?
Send a photograph of the obverse (with the monarch) and the reverse (usually St George and the dragon, or a shield design). We can identify the year, mint mark and approximate value range before you post anything.
Are circulated sovereigns worth less than mint condition ones?
For common dates, no. Both are valued at bullion. For rare dates and proof issues, condition matters and a sharp uncirculated coin can be worth materially more than a worn one.
Do you buy half sovereigns and quarter sovereigns?
Yes. Half sovereigns contain 3.66 grams of fine gold and are valued at half the full-sovereign bullion. Quarter sovereigns (modern only) contain about 1.83 grams of fine gold.
Will you buy sovereigns still in their proof case?
Yes, and the case and certificate add to the value where the coin is a proof. Send the complete set, case, certificate, coin, together for the best valuation.
How are sovereigns packed for return if I decline?
Individually wrapped in tissue and sent by tracked, signed-for Royal Mail Special Delivery at our cost. Cases are returned alongside the coins they belong to.