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History of the Half Guinea and Half Sovereign
Pictures of Half Sovereigns
Pictures of Half Guineas
Half Guineas
Charles II, James II, William & Mary, William III, Anne, George I, George II, George III
Half Sovereigns
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 to retail prices only,
and are 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.
As indicated in the note below, despite lower quotes in these dated prices the bullion value of a half sovereign was about £436 ($595) on February 13th 2026. Current bullion values of half sovereigns can be found here.
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.
Values of these hammered coins are not available.
Year F VF EF 1669 1000 2600 10000 1670 950 2300 9500 1671 1200 3100 10000 1672b1 1100 3000 9500 b1: first bust
Year F VF EF 1672b2 950 2750 8500 1673 950 2750 9000 1674 950 2750 9000 1675 950 2500 9000 1676 950 2500 8500 1676/4 3000 9000 1676ec 1350 5500 1677 950 2500 9000 1677ec 1100 3500 11000 1678 1020 2500 9500 1678/7 1100 2500 9000 1678ec 1700 4500 11000 1679 900 2200 8500 1680 900 2600 13000 1680ec 1550 4500 13000 1681 900 3000 9500 1682 900 3000 9500 1682ec 1200 4500 13000 1683 900 2500 9000 1683ec ex rare 1684 900 2500 9000 1684ec 1200 4000 13000 b2: second bust ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1686 1000 2750 9000 1686ec 1300 5000 13500 1687 1000 2750 9000 1688 1050 2750 9000 ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1689 1000 2750 9000
Year F VF EF 1690 1000 2750 9000 1691 1000 2750 9000 1691ec 1350 4000 10000 1692 1000 4000 7500 1692el ex rare 1692ec 1000 3750 11000 1693 ex rare 1694 1000 3750 9000 ec: elephant and castle below bust el: elephant below bust
Year F VF EFEarly harp
1695 900 2000 6500 1695ec 1200 3000 8500 1696ec 1000 2500 8500
Year F VF EF 1697 1000 3000 8500 1698 900 2000 7000 1698ec 1200 2800 8500 1699 ex rare 1700 1000 2500 7000 1701 900 2500 7000 ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1702 1800 5000 15500 1703V 25000 45000 125000 1705 2000 5000 15000 V: VIGO below bust
Year F VF EF 1707 900 2500 7500 1708 950 2600 7500 1709 900 2500 7000 1710 900 2000 6500 1711 900 2000 6500 1712 950 2500 7000 1713 950 2000 7500 1714 950 2000 7500
Year F VF EF 1715 1000 2000 8000 1717 850 1700 6000 1718 850 1700 6000 1718/7 850 1700 6000 1719 850 1700 5500 1720 850 1800 6000 1721 ex rare 1721ec ex rare 1722 850 1700 6000 1723 850 1700 6000 1724 900 1800 7000 ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1725 700 1600 5500 1726 700 1600 5500 1727 700 1600 5500
Year F VF EF 1728 1200 2200 8500 1728 proof ex rare 1729 1200 2200 8500 1729E 1200 2300 9000 1730 900 1750 9000 1730E 1200 3000 1731 900 1400 7000 1731E ex rare 1732 850 1500 7500 1732E ex rare 1733 unknown? 1734 850 1500 5750 1735 unknown? 1736 850 1500 6500 1737 850 1500 7000 1738 850 1500 6500 1739 850 1500 6500 1739E ex rare E: EIC below bust
Year F VF EF 1740 850 1500 6500 1743 ex rare 1745 900 1800 6750 1745L 2200 3750 13000 1746 800 1200 5500 L: LIMA below bust
Year F VF EF 1747 800 1300 8750 1748 850 1200 5500 1749 950 2000 7500 1750 800 1500 6250 1751 800 1200 6500 1752 800 1200 4500 1753 800 1200 4500 1755 800 1200 4500 1756 800 1000 4000 1758 750 1000 4000 1759 750 1000 3250 1759/8 750 1000 4000 1760 750 1000 4000
Year F VF EF 1762 900 2200 6500 1763 1100 3250 7250
Year F VF EF 1764 650 1000 2200 1765 900 2000 5000 1766 650 1000 2200 1768 650 1000 2200 1769 650 1000 2250 1772 ex rare 1773 650 1000 2500 1774b2 700 1150 2750
Year F VF EF 1774b3 ex rare 1775b3 1500 4000 11000
Year F VF EF 1775b4 800 1000 1500 1775b4 proof ex rare 1776 500 950 1700 1777 475 850 1500 1778 475 950 1500 1779 475 950 1600 1781 475 950 1400 1783 650 2000 1784 475 700 1400 1785 450 650 1400 1786 450 650 1400
Year F VF EF 1787 450 650 1400 1788 450 650 1400 1789 450 650 1400 1790 450 650 1100 1791 450 650 1100 1792 1600 4000 1793 450 625 1100 1794 450 625 1100 1795 650 1800 2200 1796 450 625 1100 1797 450 625 1100 1798 450 625 1100 1800 750 1500 3000
Year F VF EF 1801 450 550 1000 1802 450 550 1000 1803 450 550 1000
Year F VF EF 1804 450 550 1000 1805 ex rare 1806 450 550 900 1808 450 550 900 1809 450 550 900 1810 450 550 900 1811 575 850 1700 1813 525 700 1400 1813 proof very rare
Extracted from Coin News February 2026
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1817 450 600 1100 2500 1818 450 600 1100 2750 1820 450 600 1100 2500
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1821 850 1600 3750 5500 1821 proof 10000 1823 350 600 1200 2500 1824 350 600 1000 2200 1825 350 600 1000 2200 1826 350 575 1100 2500 1826 proof 6750 1827 350 575 1100 2500 1828 350 575 1100 2000
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1831p proof 9000 1831m proof 9000 1834 500 900 1500 3250 1835 500 900 1400 3250 1836 500 900 1400 3200 1836sd 2500 5000 10000 17000 1837 500 900 1800 3000
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1838 320 400 1200 1800 1839 proof 6500 1841 320 425 1400 2000 1842 320 425 1000 1600 1843 320 425 1000 1600 1844 320 400 850 1150 1845 350 800 3000 5000 1846 320 400 850 1200 1847 320 400 750 1100 1848 320 400 850 1200 1849 320 400 800 1100 1850 350 700 3000 3500 1851 320 400 800 1100 1852 320 400 800 1100 1853 320 400 800 1100 1853 proof 12500 1854 ex rare 1855 320 400 750 1750 1856 320 400 750 1750 1857 320 400 750 1750 1858 320 400 750 1750 1859 320 400 750 1750 1860 320 400 750 1750 1861 320 400 750 1750 1862 800 2500 10000 12000 1863 320 400 800 1800 1863dn 320 400 800 1850 1864 320 400 650 1500 1865 320 400 650 1500 1866 320 400 650 1500 1867 320 400 650 1500 1869 320 400 650 1500 1870 320 400 650 1500 1871 320 400 650 1500 1872 320 400 650 1500 1873 320 400 650 1500 1874 320 400 650 1500 1875 320 400 650 1500 1876 320 400 650 1500 1877 320 400 650 1500 1878 320 400 650 1500 1879 320 400 650 1500 1880dn 320 400 650 1500 1880ndn 320 400 900 1700 1883 320 400 600 1350 1884 320 400 650 1500 1885 320 400 600 1350 dn: die number (all from 1864 to 1879 have a die number) nd: no die numberMelbourne Mint
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1873M 320 400 5000 1877M 320 400 5000 1881M 320 500 7000 1882M 320 500 1600 1884M 320 375 1750 1885M 320 600 4000 1886M 320 600 7000 1887M 320 1000 12000 20000Sydney Mint
Year F VF EF Unc 1871S 320 375 750 1100 1872S 320 375 750 1100 1875S 320 375 750 1150 1879S 320 375 650 900 1880S 320 375 850 1881S 320 375 1250 1882S ex rare 1883S 320 375 900 1886S 320 375 700 1887S 320 375 800 4500 M: Melbourne S: Sydney
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1887 320 375 500 550 1887 proof 1900 1890 320 375 500 600 1891 320 375 425 500 1892 320 375 425 600 1893 320 375 425 500 Melbourne Mint 1887M 320 375 425 500 1893M 320 375 450 1200 Sydney Mint 1887S 320 375 425 600 1889S 320 375 1500 1893S 320 375 1000 M: Melbourne S: Sydney
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
1893 320 350 425 500 1893 proof 3000 1894 320 350 425 500 1895 320 350 425 500 1896 320 350 425 500 1897 320 350 425 500 1898 320 350 425 500 1899 320 350 425 500 1900 320 350 425 500 1901 320 350 425 500 Melbourne Mint 1893M extremely rare 1896M 320 350 450 1000 1899M 320 350 550 800 1900M 320 350 600 750 Perth Mint 1899P unique proof 1900P 320 400 750 3000 Sydney Mint 1893S 320 350 100 1897S 320 350 800 1900S 320 350 750 M: Melbourne P: Perth S: Sydney
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete. On 13th February 2026 the minimum value of a half sovereign was about £436.
Year F VF EF Unc 1902 320 350 425 500 1902 proof 750 1903 320 350 425 500 1904 320 350 425 500 1905 320 350 425 500 1906 320 350 425 500 1907 320 350 425 500 1908 320 350 425 500 1909 320 350 425 500 1910 320 350 425 500 Melbourne Mint 1906M 320 350 750 1000 1907M 320 350 425 500 1908M 320 350 425 1750 1909M 320 350 600 850 Perth Mint 1904P* very rare 1904P 320 350 1000 1908P 320 350 950 1250 1909P 320 350 500 750 Sydney Mint 1902S 320 350 425 500 1902S ex rare proof 1903S 320 350 425 500 1906S 320 350 425 500 1908S 320 350 425 500 1910S 320 350 425 500 M: Melbourne P: Perth S: Sydney
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete. On 13th February 2026 the minimum value of a half sovereign was about £436.
Year F VF EF Unc 1911 320 350 425 500 1911 proof 1750 1912 320 350 425 800 1913 320 350 425 800 1914 320 350 425 500 1915 320 350 425 500 Melbourne Mint 1915M 320 350 425 500 Perth Mint 1911P 320 350 425 500 1915P 320 350 425 500 1918P 320 600 2000 5000 1919P rare 1920P rare Sydney Mint 1911S 320 350 425 500 1912S 320 350 425 500 1914S 320 350 425 500 1915S 320 350 425 500 1916S 320 350 425 500 Pretoria Mint 1923SA proof 1400 1925SA 320 350 425 500 1926SA 320 350 425 500 M: Melbourne P: Perth S: Sydney SA: Pretoria, South Africa
Year F VF EF Unc 1937 proof 1750
Half sovereign values extracted from Coin News November 2025 (1817-1937)
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete. On 13th February 2026 the bullion value of a half sovereign was about £435. Consequently the values below should be increased by about £410
Year F VF EF Unc 1953 extremely rare 1980 proof 45 1982 45 1982 proof 50 1983 proof 50 1984 proof 50 1985 proof 45 1986 proof 45 1987 proof 45 1988 proof 55 1989 proof 100 1990 proof 55 1991 proof 55 1992 proof 65 1993 proof 65 1994 proof 70 1995 proof 70 1996 proof 70 1997 proof 70 1998 proof 70 1999 proof 70 2000 40 2000 proof 70 2001 40 2001 proof 70 2002 40 2002 proof 70 2003 40 2003 proof 70 2004 40 2004 proof 70 2005n 45 2005n proof 80 2006 57 2006 proof 97 2007 57 2007 proof 97 2008 57 2008 proof 97 2009 57 2009 proof 97
Extracted from Coin Yearbook 2007 (1953-2006)
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.
Half Guineas
Charles II, James II, William & Mary, William III, Anne, George I, George II, George III
Half Sovereigns
George III, George IV, William IV, Victoria, Edward VII, George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
On 13th February 2026 gold bullion was about $5044 per Troy oz (£3682). The half sovereign contains 0.1177 oz of gold, and this gives a bullion value of about £436 or US$595.
Please note that the values given above were valid when gold prices were very different. Current bullion values may be available on my Bullion Value page.
8s and 8s4d << :
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Values Index
History of the 10s & 10s6d (& 11s)
Main History Index
Pictures of Half Sovereigns
Pictures of Half Guineas
Pictures Index
Values of Coins of UK - 10s & 10s6d (& 11s)
Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v56 13th February 2026