Gold Sovereign year-by-year guide

Notable Sovereign years across each monarch series, with mintages, mint marks and the typical numismatic premium over spot you'd expect at a UK auction or specialist dealer. For the live melt value of any Sovereign, see the Sovereign coin page.

Queen Victoria · 1838–1887

Victoria Young Head

The first modern Sovereign portrait. Wreath-and-shield reverse (1838–1874) then St George reverse (1871–1887). Featured the youthful Queen Victoria portrait by William Wyon.

1838 2,718,000 +200% premium 1841 extremely scarce +4000% premium 1859 1,547,603 +25% premium 1872 13,486,708 +5% premium 1879 3,141,800 +80% premium 1887 1,111,280 +30% premium

Queen Victoria · 1887–1893

Victoria Jubilee

Issued for Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Joseph Edgar Boehm's mature portrait. Short series, ended in 1893 when public criticism of the design prompted a replacement.

1887 1,111,280 +25% premium 1888 2,777,424 +12% premium 1891 6,329,476 +8% premium 1893 1,498,000 +18% premium

Queen Victoria · 1893–1901

Victoria Old Head (Veiled)

Thomas Brock's elegant veiled portrait. Struck across London, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth mints. The standard Late-Victorian Sovereign.

1893 6,898,260 +8% premium 1894 3,782,611 +10% premium 1899 7,515,978 +6% premium 1901 4,628,000 +8% premium

King Edward VII · 1902–1910

Edward VII

George William de Saulles' bareheaded portrait. The first King-monarch Sovereign since George IV. Issued across all British Empire mints.

1902 4,737,796 +10% premium 1905 10,124,587 +6% premium 1908 P 274,000 +50% premium 1910 4,055,624 +7% premium

King George V · 1911–1932

George V

Sir Bertram Mackennal's portrait. Includes the WWI-era issues and the cessation of UK Sovereign production after 1917 (mints continued overseas until 1932).

1911 30,044,105 +5% premium 1914 11,501,117 +8% premium 1916 C 6,111 +1200% premium 1917 1,014,714 +200% premium 1925 3,520,431 +6% premium 1932 SA 1,066,680 +10% premium

King George VI · 1937 (proof only)

George VI

Sovereigns struck only as proof in 1937 for the coronation set. None issued for circulation. Extremely scarce.

1937 5,500 (proof) +700% premium

Queen Elizabeth II · 1957–2022

Elizabeth II

Sovereign production resumed in 1957. Various portraits across her reign (Mary Gillick, Arnold Machin, Raphael Maklouf, Ian Rank-Broadley, Jody Clark). The standard modern-era Sovereign series.

1957 2,072,000 +12% premium 1958 8,700,140 +5% premium 1959 1,358,228 +8% premium 1962 3,000,000 +5% premium 1974 5,002,566 +4% premium 1979 10,000 (proof) +25% premium 1989 23,471 (proof) +80% premium 2002 100,000 (proof) +30% premium 2012 250,000+ +8% premium 2022 750,000+ +5% premium

King Charles III · 2023–present

Charles III

Martin Jennings' portrait. The first King-monarch Sovereign since George VI in 1937. Available in bullion, proof and BU formats.

2023 150,000+ +8% premium 2024 200,000+ +5% premium 2025 200,000+ +4% premium 2026 ongoing +4% premium

How to read a Sovereign year

Every Sovereign contains exactly the same 7.32g of fine gold. What varies year-to-year is collector interest. Key dates (rare years, scarce mint marks, special designs) command a premium over the gold value — the "numismatic premium" shown above. Common dates trade close to their gold spot value plus the standard ~6% dealer premium.

Mint marks

M — Melbourne (1872–1931)
S — Sydney (1855–1926)
P — Perth (1899–1931)
I — Bombay (1918 only — very scarce)
C — Ottawa (1908–1919)
SA — Pretoria (1923–1932)
No mint mark — Royal Mint, London

Numismatic premiums shown are typical at UK auction in good condition. Proof issues, pristine examples and slabbed/graded coins (PCGS / NGC) can command materially higher prices.